OWNER Chris Hirst flew in from Thailand especially to see his horse, Certain Lad, win at Redcar yesterday (Monday).

Mr Hirst flew to England on Friday and will jet home to Thailand from Newcastle today (Tuesday) with a smile on his face after seeing his bay colt triumph in The Watch Racing UK Anywhere Novice Auction Stakes.

“It’s a long way to come but he’s been showing promise at home so it was worth it,” said Mr Hirst after the Mick Channon-trained two-year-old had proved too strong for Tim Easterby’s Big Ace.

Channon said after the race that he wouldn't be afraid to pitch the Clodovil colt in at the deep end in a race such as The Coventry Stakes at Ascot.

"It's whether we go there or wait for the July Stakes at Newmarket," said Channon. "I'll talk to his owner (Chris Hirst) but you know me, I'd give it a go."

Voyager Blue was entered in the Derby and the well-bred colt, trained at Lambourn by Jamie Osborne, upset odds-on shot Savaanah in the penultimate race.

However, following a telephone conversation with the trainer, owners Ian and Pam Bendelow confirmed that the Footstepsinthesand colt would miss the Derby and be aimed at a valuable race at Chelmsford City next Thursday.

“He hasn’t matured sufficiently yet but there are good races to be won with him,” said Mr Bendelow.

Champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa arrived at Redcar on the back of a four-timer at Ripon but it took until the last race for him to bag a winner, with If We Can Can staying on stoutly, in the typically determined style of a Mark Johnston runner.

There was a kiss for both horse and jockey in the winner’s enclosure after the third race, after Eeh Bah Gum won impressively in the hands of David Allan for trainer Tim Easterby. Joint owner Lena Rhodes couldn’t resist planting a smacker on the gelding's nose before turning her attention to the rider.

“It was on Nick’s bucket-list to own a winner, and we absolutely adore this horse,” said Lena, who lives with her husband at Thornton-le-Dale in North Yorkshire.

The eight-race card, staged in beautiful sunshine, was a warm-up for one of Redcar’s premier meetings, The Zetland Gold Cup, next Monday.