Racing: Continent opens new worlds for Nicholls

The delight never diminishes when David Nicholls storms the high citadels of racing. Yesterday was perhaps the greatest moment of "Dandy's" career as the trainer who looks as though he could give you a one-two accomplished exactly that feat here in the July Cup.

Continent and Bahamian Pirate were the horses, but Dandy was the man picking up the silver goblet as his part in proceedings. "Can't get much wine in that," he observed in his wide Yorkshire tones.

It was put to Nicholls that he is now poised to take the United States by storm in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park in Chicago this autumn. Dandy has not made the mistake of overplanning for what would be his first foray into American racing. "What did he know about Chicago?" one questioner asked. "Nothin'," he said. "I don't know where it is. If it's just outside Leeds I might have been there. And the only park I've heard of [in the States] is Belmont Park."

It was, in truth, not the greatest July Cup, though this was not a sentiment anyone ventured to the trainer. Bahamian Knight's losing streak now extends to 10, while Continent last won 10 contests ago in the Ayr Gold Cup, coincidentally the same race Bahamian Pirate had collected in 2000. It was, nevertheless, a compelling renewal of the Group One contest, the run-up to which was conducted in diabolical weather.

The going was adequate for John Gosden's Malhub as the colt entered the paddock, but by the time he got out all chance had gone. The white lightning colours of both Nicholls' horses were appropriate on a day when thunderclaps rang out.

The 14 runners looked as though they had come through a ford as they circled in a storm during the preliminaries. It rained hard on the parade.

In the race proper, Twilight Blues's prospects ended before they started. He was still wearing a hood when the stalls opened and forfeited 10 lengths. Sahara Desert, the designated pacemaker for his Ballydoyle stablemate Landseer, never made it to the front. Three Points achieved that station, but the interesting business was going on behind as Darryll Holland and Continent searched for room. It was a task which, on occasion, has proved beyond them, but yesterday was the blessed day.

A crack appeared in the fleshy wall in front when Reel Buddy faltered. Continent slipped through the available gap on the rails to rescue Holland from a grisly reception.

The five-year-old swerved to the centre of the course as if he had seen a tiger by the running rail but by then the race was in safe keeping. The winning margin was a neck as Continent became the first northern-trained winner of the race since Lochnager in 1976.

"One or two times he's got stuck in traffic, but it's come right on the big day," Nicholls said. "I've given Darryll some bollockings over other races he has ridden on him, but that is all forgotten now."

Edward St George delivered the benediction for Nicholls and his way with horses. "They are his life," the winning owner said. "He understands them. He talks to them. He will take half-witted horses that other trainers throw out and turn them into serious racehorses."

It was, however, a bad day at the office for others. The Tote betting system on course was on the blink for over an hour following a lightning strike on the machinery. No betting at all took place on the fifth race, leading to an overall turnover figure down by 30 per cent on the same day last year.

The drama in the Bunbury Cup became apparent in running, when the trainer Jon Akehurst burst into the stewards' box to inform the occupants that his Capricho was running without the impediment of a weight cloth. The grey took advantage of this 9lb concession to force a dead-heat with Mine. Then he was thrown out and his trainer fined £1,500.

"It is all my fault," Akehurst said. "The horse was a bit lively when I went to saddle him up and I got the saddle on as quickly as I could. I clearly left the weight cloth in the saddling box and, later on, my travelling head lad found it still there. By that time it was too late to do anything about it."

* The Mick Channon-trained Queen's Logic, champion two-year-old of 2001, has been retired to stud after suffering yet another training setback.