SUZANNE France's love affair with Efidium continued in earnest at Thirsk yesterday when she won on the gelding for the fifth time, writes Janus.

The young apprentice jockey certainly has the magic touch when it comes to steering the seven-year-old, who despite being partnered by several senior members of the weighing room so far this term had failed to produce the goods.

Efidium's losing run stretched back over a year, however, he wasn't to know that and when France got the cover she so dearly needs in the first three-quarters of the Racing UK Handicap the writing was already on the wall.

Just after the two-furlong pole she switched Efidium to the wide outside and the rest as they say is history, as the combination powered to victory in the one-mile contest.

"The girl factor played a big part in this success. He's been sulking for stronger handling and doesn't like getting beaten up, he's got wise to that," reported triumphant trainer, Malton's Neville Bycroft.

Jim Goldie had the distinction of owning, breeding, plus training Blazing Heights, clear-cut winner of the opening Nattrass Construction Maiden Stakes.

"The other three out of the same mare have all been slow, so I didn't even offer him to anybody, but he's surprised me with speed and is quite a nice horse," explained Glasgow-based Goldie.

Michael Hills came up from Lambourn for just one ride - and he made it count by galloping his rivals into submission on the 7-4 favourite, Witwatersrand, to clinch the Calverts Carpets Maiden Stakes.

Trained by his father Barry for Maktoum Al Maktoum, Michael jumped Witwatersrand out of the stalls like a flash and never saw another rival as they made all to land the eight-furlong encounter in great style.

The closest finish on the card came in the mile-and-a-half Marriage of Rhodri and Louise Handicap when Balwearie narrowly held the late challenge of Whitby Echo.

Successful rider Tom Eaves forced Linda Perratt's charge ahead in the home straight, but Tom was screaming for the line on Balwearie as his mount began to wilt under pressure.

The concluding event at the track - the last before next April - fell to 16-1 outsider My Rascal, who completed a long-priced double for Alan Munro, who earlier did the bookies a huge favour by bagging the Chantry Chemicals Maiden Stakes on 50-1 "skinner", Guilia.

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