MICK QUINN'S playing days at centre forward might have long gone, but the former Newcastle striker-turned-trainer showed he can still hit the target by sending out Bold Minstrel to win the feature race at Redcar yesterday.

"He's grown and strengthened over the winter and is a lovely horse," reported Quinn after his three-year-old picked up the neck-end of £7,000 for winning the Pertemps Employment Sprint Handicap.

Successful jockey, Seb Sanders, was in no hurry to make his move, however when he struck the front at the furlong pole, the result was never in doubt.

"This horse has got some toe," exclaimed Sanders as he dismounted the flashy near jet-black son of Bold Fact.

Tiber Tiger showed no mercy when streaking away from his eight rivals in clear-cut fashion to land the seven-furlong Classified Stakes.

"He loves Redcar and quick ground," explained winning trainer Nick Littmoden's wife Emma, who added, "When he thrives, he really thrives, so we'll consider turning Tiber Tiger out again under a penalty in the next few days,"

Favourite backers looked a shade lucky to get off to a winning start when the odds-on market leader, Littledodayno, scraped home by a head from 10-1 outsider, Aspen Falls.

Jockey Tom Queally had to throw the kitchen sink at Littledodayno to deny the persistent challenge of the runner-up, who was the first two-year-old seen out on a racecourse this year for Newmarket ace, Sir Mark Prescott.

After his normal snail-like start, Langton-near-Malton-based handler, Nigel Tinkler, has started to fire on all cylinders.

Although Tinkler wasn't 100 per cent confident that Charlie Tango would be in a going mood prior to the Racecourse Claiming Stakes, there was nothing wrong with the gelding's attitude when responding to a strong drive by Joe Fanning to edge out Arran Scout to take the Racecourse Claiming Stakes.

Cool-as-a-cucumber amateur rider, Sarah Brotherton, brought Mick Easterby's Uhuru Peak with an exquisitely timed late charge to collect the closing six-furlong Maiden Handicap.

l Richard Hughes was at his cheekiest when partnering Hachita to an all-the-way victory in the ladbrokes.com Fillies' Conditions Stakes at Leicester yesterday.

The jockey quickly grabbed the stands rail on the Henry Cecil-trained filly and dictated affairs for the rest of the seven-furlong contest.

The 100-30 joint-favourite looked like coming home clear of the opposition, but Bon Nuit put in a determined late effort, only for Hughes to treat it with contempt as Hachita held the runner-up by a neck.

The other market leader, Love Thirty, was a length and three-quarters away in third.

''She's a very genuine filly although she's very lazy and laid-back at home,'' said Cecil's assistant David Lanigan.

''She's probably better with an extra furlong to go, but there was nothing there for her. We wanted to get her to the track while the ground was good.

''We'll have to sit down now and make a plan. Obviously we'll have to try and get some black type for her.''

She is bred for the part as her dam Choice Spirit is a half-sister to Zafonic and Zamindar.

Crete gave William Haggas something to cheer about when opening his account in the ladbrokes.com Handicap.

The Newmarket trainer has had a lean period of late but Crete (11-2) gave him his first winner for five weeks.

Leading inside the final furlong, the three-year-old beat Bulwark by two and a half lengths, with Alessano in third.

Said a relieved Haggas: ''About time - we've had a trying time.

''He's improved for the step up in trip, which we hoped he would. He didn't do anything wrong today - he's had a few knockers. He did it well and hopefully he'll be better with a bit more cut in the ground.

''He handled it well and to be fair it was fast at Hamilton when he was third.''

Danzili Bay answered Alan Munro's every call to hold the gambled-on Arabian Dancer in the ladbrokes.com Classified Stakes.

Arabian Dancer looked like hauling in Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt but Danzili Bay held on by half a length.

''He's a little battler and Alan gave him a lovely ride,'' said the trainer's travelling head lad Ronan Meehan. ''He loves to hear his hooves rattle and you could run him once a week - he's tough, and a fun horse.''

Shermeen made her experience count when getting off the mark at the second attempt in the EBF ladbrokes.com Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Jamie Osborne's charge, who had made a promising debut when third just five days ago, led over a furlong out and ran on strongly in the hands of Shane Kelly.

The 11-8 favourite won by two lengths from Martian Glow, with Fancy Day a short head away third.