Racing: Winged Victory thrives on a diet of hard work

First Edition

Winged Victory, who seemed unlikely to ever see the course last year, continued to display her healthy appetite for racing at Lingfield yesterday.

Ian Balding's filly is fond of her food, and was too overweight to race last season, but the three- year-old is now fighting fit and registered her second success in three weeks in the Surrey track's McCall Group Conditions Stakes. Ray Cochrane replaced the suspended Lanfranco Dettori on the daughter of Dancing Brave, who quickened well up the stands' rail to seize the initiative after being switched right over a furlong out.

Another horse in need of a diet, Serious Hurry, took the Victoria Trading Handicap. 'Look at him, he must be the fattest horse in racing,' said trainer Charles Elsey. 'He would be like a carthorse if I gave him a rest.'

High Domain is a probable for Royal Ascot after notching a comfortable debut win in the Hawthorn Maiden Stakes. Matt McCormack, his trainer, will choose between the Coventry or the Windsor Castle Stakes.

Popular handicapper Absonal, the mount of Lydia Pearce, broke down on his near-fore when pulling up after the ladies' handicap and had to be destroyed. The grey, trained by Paul Howling, won seven of 41 starts.