Local trainer Michael Smith raised the roof at a rainy Newcastle on the first day of the Northumberland Plate meeting.
Smith, who trains just down the road at Kirkheaton in Northumberland, won the feature tradersbettingexchange.co.uk Seaton Delaval Handicap with 13-2 chance Vito Volterra.
The four-year-old finished second in the Carlisle Bell just 24 hours earlier and after breaking well to claim his customary position at the head of affairs under Adrian Nicholls, he fought off Prince Of Dance and Arabian Spirit to win by a neck and three-quarters of a length.
"He's been busy. I gave him his supper at Carlisle and he ate up fine so I thought we may as well run him. He's as hard as nails. When he gets his own way in front he's very difficult to pass and he found extra today when they came at him, but I was getting a bit worried," said Smith.
"If he's in front a furlong out it takes a good one to get by him. This meeting is my Royal Ascot and the dream is to one day win the Plate."
Another trainer to taste success close to home was Brian Ellison with his old favourite John Forbes. Sent off the 9-4 market leader to follow up a recent win in an apprentice race, he swamped top-weight Rosewin to win by a length and a quarter.
"Seven years ago on Saturday he won here as a two-year-old. He's named after my dad and it's amazing he turned out so good really. I don't have many running in my colours now because I'm always trying to sell them, but I won't sell him," said Ellison.
Ellison then dead-heated in the next when Dane Cottage (7-1) was adjudged to have joined Pattern Mark (12-1) right on the line in the Ignition Festival Handicap.
Pattern Mark's jockey Paul Hanagan secured a double of his own when the heavily-supported Ted's Brother (16-1 into 4-1 in the morning) streaked clear in the CFK Fun Day 31st July Handicap.Richard Guest's three-year-old drifted back out to 7-1 at the off but the early confidence was not misplaced.
Tom Tate has a nice juvenile on his hands in the shape of Parc De Launay who remained unbeaten after the tradersbettingexchange.co.uk Novice Stakes, while Godolphin's 16-1 chance Citizen's Charter made a successful debut in the Coopers Marquees Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
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