By Peter Moore at Ascot Friday 4th September 2026

Picture: San Jose at Ascot
Picture by Peter Moore

The double act of Jamie and Saffie Osborne struck again after bagging a double on The Big Ascot Food & Wine Friday at Ascot.

There was plenty of samples of food and drink on offer, but the main course on offer was served up by the father and daughter duo.

Malachy’s Wish was just picked off late by a well treated rival at Kempton 16 days ago on the AW surface.

Back on turf, the three-year-old made all under Saffie Osborne. Despite drifting inside the final furlong, the son of Showcasing kept on well to score by half a length.

The Osborne’s were quickly back in the winners enclosure after Saffie steered course specialist Hickory to victory in the Class 2 1m handicap.

Hickory, who was successful on this same card a year ago, thrives on the Ascot turf and made it four wins at the Berkshire track.

In rear, having to wait for room over 1f out, Osborne soon switched left, with a fine turn of pace the gelding ran on well inside final furlong and won going away.

San Jose had the benefit of a previous run under his belt in the 7f maiden after finishing fourth on debut at Newbury. The Brian Meehan trained two-year-old landed the odds in the opener, despite drifting towards the stand side rail, with James Doyle aboard the colt had plenty in hand to go on and put the race to bed to score by two- and three-quarter lengths.

“I thought that was really impressive,” Meehan said. “He showed some greenness and it’s hard for a two-year-old on his second start to make all the running, so there’s improvement to come there.

“He’s clearly talented and exciting. I’m part of a team and I’ll discuss it with Marc and [racing adviser] Jamie McCalmont before we come to any decision. He could go to the Dewhurst, but he is also in the Goffs Million, so we’ll see what they want to do. He’s a proper horse.”

Doyle, picked up a double on the card after steering Clarity to victory in the Class 2 1m maiden fillies stakes.

However, there was an anxious wait for Doyle, Anna Lisa Balding and a large number of owners who are part of the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate after a stewards enquiry was call for possible interference between Clarity and newcomer Divide And Conquer.

After the stewards’ inquiry klaxon sounded, Anna Lisa Balding, wife of winning trainer Andrew, sought reassurance from jockey James Doyle that their victory would not be taken away.

Doyle assured them he would “be amazed” if the result was overturned after his mount bumped the well-backed second Divide And Conquer in the closing stages of the contest.

After over twenty minutes the result stood, with Clarity breaking her maiden tag at the fourth attempt.

While Doyle escaped sanction for the accidental interference between Clarity and Divide And Conquer, the rider did receive a two-day ban for careless riding after interfering with Stormhaven, who finished fourth.

Nobelos became the longest price winner of the day after landing the 6f novice contest at 33-1.

Trained by Charlie Hills, Nobelos triumphed in a tight finish after getting the better of Brushstroke to win by three quarters of a length.

“We’ve always thought that he was a nice horse and he’d had a nice introduction at Windsor,” Hills said.

“He’s come on nicely for that and you’d like to think he’s going to keep improving. I’m not sure where we’d go next but he showed a nice turn of foot there, so we’ll stay at this trip. It’s encouraging.”

Richard Hannon ended a long losing baron spell of 51 runners without a winner after First Legion prevailed in the finale under Shane Foley.