WITH 38 races behind him, Breakheart probably knows considerably more about racing than his apprentice riders for whom he is the perfect training vehicle.

But young and old combined in almost fairy tale style when the veteran gave 17-year-old Jack Garrity a memorable first winner on his seventh ride in the ten-furlong handicap at Salisbury today.

The son of retired north country jump jockey Russ Garrity, he was officially taken on by Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding 12 months ago.

“Dad rode more than 40 winners but I’ll be lucky to do that,” he modesty reflected afterwards. “The horse broke well and I let him stride out in his own good time. It was a question of biding my time.

“However he needs plenty of cover and a gap appeared too quickly but I didn’t look round. I just kept going.”

At 5ft 10in, the willowy Garrity amazingly can ride at just 7st 5lb.

Breakheart, who was winning his third race, was bred by the course chairman, Jeff Smith.

Gloucestershire trainer Ed De Giles could have been forgiven for looking bleary-eyed after snatching just two hours sleep on a ferry after a fruitless trip to the Curragh.

However he drove to the track to saddle the well handicapped Go Nani Go who had been significantly backed before racing from 7s into 11/2.

Giles is in his third season, having started as an assistant with Nick Gaselee before venturing into the city. “I thought I would be back in five years but it took 15. I went to get some money but now I’m spending it more quickly!”

Giles, who has 25 horses including two jumpers in his burgeoning yard, said: “I thought he was an 85 rated when we bought him. Today he was running off 77. He needs quick ground to be seen at his best but he will hold his own.”

Tom Queally suffered sore knees when Intermath suddenly jinked by the path crossing the course and was thrown out of the side door in the six-furlong conditions race, won by Miracle of Medinah.

Trainer Mark Usher named the horse after Europe’s astonishing comeback in the Ryder Cup last season as a shrewd marketing ploy but none of the winning owners, The High Jinks Partnership, ironically plays golf!

Usher believes there is plenty of improvement to come from the two-year-old who will either next run in a valuable sales race at York’s Ebor meeting or in the July Stakes at Newmarket.

Queally stood himself down after his fall and missed out on a winner when Venue caught the favourite Thouwra in the dying strides of the ten-furlong maiden.

Richard Hannon kept up his phenomenal course record when Cricklewood Green made a winning debut in the seven furlong opener after his market rival Mabdhool repeatedly ran into traffic problems when looking for a run.

Hannon, with 11 winners, has won almost a quarter of the races staged at the track this season. His personal best is 20 two years ago and there is still half the season to go.