Racing: Count shares Ern's earnings

FOR the second time in two months, a Group Three race produced a dead-heat yesterday when the judge could not separate Young Ern and Pollen Count after a marvellous finish to the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, writes Greg Wood.

Pollen Count, ridden by Lanfranco Dettori for John Gosden, led throughout and fought off a series of challenges in the long home straight, but the final charge of Willie Ryan on Young Ern was enough to take a share of the prize to Simon Dow's Epsom yard.

Gosden is accustomed to Pattern-race success and was satisfied with the outcome. 'Our horse was in front just before the post and Young Ern was in front just after, so this is the perfect result,' he said.

Simon Dow, though, was not completely content. 'I would have rather won it outright but a dead heat will have to do,' he said. 'The Prix de la Foret has always been his main objective and if he is still in this kind of form, then he'll go there.'