MICHAEL Dods is hoping to strike while the iron is hot with Spinatrix after his game mare delivered a career-best performance in the Coral Sprint Trophy at York.

It was a second successive victory in the valuable race for Darlington-based Dods having landed the pot 12 months ago with Mass Rally, who was unplaced on this occasion.

Spinatrix has an affinity for Ripon having been second in the last two renewals of the Great St Wilfrid and was registering her first win away from that track since July 2012.

Ridden by apprentice Connor Beasley, she was allowed an easy lead and despite drifting across the track, the six-year-old held off the challenge of Highland Acclaim by three-quarters of a length.

With the ground now coming in her favour, Dods has two more races on her agenda before the end of the season.

"I was pleased with the draw (nine) as all the others who liked to lead were drawn high," said Dods.

"I told Connor he would get an easy lead and to do his own thing.

"It was not going to be easy off top weight, she wasn't even a definite runner until Thursday, and this is a career-best.

"There's the Listed Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster if it is soft enough and then there's a Listed race at Fontainebleau on November 20 she could go for.

"She's really deserved one of these and I'm really chuffed."

Beasley said: "She's been very good to me, and the owners and Mr Dods have been very loyal.

"That's my biggest win and I only need seven to lose my claim now."

Sam James, the rider of Highland Acclaim, was handed a nine-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level.

He will miss the action on October 25 and 27-31 as well as November 1, 3 and 4.

Tim Easterby's Mattmu paid a handsome compliment to the unbeaten Limato when running out a comfortable two-and-a-quarter-length winner of the coral.co.uk Rockingham Stakes.

Second to Henry Candy's charge in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar last week, Mattmu was sent off the 2-1 favourite to make amends and he was able to quicken up once challenged by Bond's Girl and strode out impressively to win going away.

He certainly was not winning out of turn having also been placed in another big sales race at Doncaster before his Redcar run.

"He's very tough but unfortunately he hasn't won where the big money was," said Easterby.

"He loves to get his toe in and will now go to France for a Group Two at Maisons-Laffitte.

"He only ran last week but he didn't really have a race as he was beaten by a very good horse.

"If we have a wet summer, the new race at Royal Ascot might be a target (next year)."

Derby also-ran Sudden Wonder got his career back on track with a hard-fought success in the Download The Coral App Stakes.

He ran well in a trial but cut no ice in the Classic itself and was well beaten on his return to action at Hamilton.

However, sent off at 13-2 under Adam Kirby, he wore down the front-running Fattsota to win by a head.

Kirby said: "I was a bit concerned two out as I didn't think the second was going to stop.

"Once I started to wear him down, though, I fancied getting there.

"He was asked some big questions earlier in the season but was given a break and now he's bounced back. He can go to his next race with confidence."

The battle to be top trainer on the Knavesmire went right down to the wire between David O'Meara and Richard Fahey, with O'Meara just prevailing.

Fahey made him sweat by winning the Sportingbet.com Stakes with Imshivalla (25-1) who benefited from a fine front-running ride by Jack Garritty, which closed the gap to just one.

"I'm delighted for the owners," said Fahey.

"A winner at York for them is like Sheikh Mohammed winning the Derby.

"She's tough and genuine and they had thought of sending her to the sales but she's going to stay in training now."

O'Meara dashed his hopes by winning the closing Coldstream Guards Association Cup with Open Eagle (9-1), his 10th winner at the track in 2014.

It was also a landmark win for Danny Tudhope, who brought up his century for the season.

"Danny has just missed out being leading rider here by one, but he's had a breakthrough year with two Group Ones," said O'Meara.

"It's great to be leading trainer here, the press built it up and it is a special place. It gets harder every year to have winners here so it's even more special doing it twice.

"Open Eagle must have it soft and ran well in the November Handicap last year so that is where he'll probably go again."