Ralph Beckett achieved the rare feat of saddling both horses in a dead-heat for first place in the G3 HKJC World Pool Oak Tree Stakes.
Saqqara Sands (16/1) and Tabiti (9/2), ridden by Rossa Ryan and Ryan Moore respectively, were inseparable as they flashed past the post in the seven-furlong contest, with 7/2 favourite Bright Thunder half a length further back in third.
This was a second G3 success for Juddmonte homebred Tabiti, while Saqqara Sands was scoring at Pattern level for the first time for owner-breeder John Deer, following a Listed success at Carlisle last month.
Beckett said: “My daughter was laughing at me because I was going 'go on Rossa, go on Ryan, go on Rossa…'. I have definitely not been involved in a finish when two of my horses dead-heated before. William Easterby just told me his father [Tim] did it at Pontefract about 10 years ago, so I am in good company. It is one to remember.
‘‘They are two really tough fillies and we got our tactics right for once. I am thrilled for the Deers. I fancied Saqqara Sands because she was in really good shape and worked very well at the weekend. I thought she was over-priced. John Deer has been breeding good horses for a long time and this filly has been really tough throughout.
“Tabiti looked like she was going west a bit on us. I wasn’t overjoyed with her run in the Fillies’ Mile last year and she didn’t really show up early on this year. The blinkers have made a difference to her.
“I am not sure what we will do with them now. Tabiti may go up to a mile, while I am not sure Saqqara Sands wants to. Tabiti could go travelling – she is well suited to that I would think.”
Rossa Ryan said: “I think these guys [lads and lasses] don't get enough praise; they sweat blood and tears for the job. At least we didn't lose anyways. Had the head up, needed head down. I think it was the case of Tabiti had blinkers on and I could never fully get in front of her.
“To be fair to this filly, she hasn't been out of the first two in all her runs. She is improving all the while, and this win is vital for her pedigree. John Deer breeds a lot of these fillies and she's a Listed winner and a Group Three winner now, so it's great.”
Karl Burke said of Bright Thunder: “I am as happy with that as you can be without winning. She has run a great race and looked like bolting up two out, but Ryan [Moore] got a freebie in front. If they’d gone real hard or she'd had a better draw, I think she would have been bang there. She is a progressive filly, but she likes a bit of cut in the ground, so August might be tricky, but hopefully we’ll find a nice race for her in the autumn.”
Sam James added: “That was a great run. The step back to seven furlongs helped Bright Thunder, but probably softer ground would have helped too. The wide draw wasn’t ideal, but I thought I had them beat coming down the hill as she travelled real strong. But the two in front had a bit of a freebie and they quickened away from me.”
