Yogi's Girl wins Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes at Chester in thrilling photo finish
Yogi's Girl wins the Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes in a very tight photo finish from Black Orange at Chester.
Racegoers were treated to a thrilling finish for the opening race of the three-day Chester May meeting as Yogi's Girl just held Black Orange in the Stellar Group Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes.
The pair were prominent from the start with John Egan grabbing the advantage of the stands rail on Yogi's Girl (4-1) and it proved a winning move from stall three.
Gay Kelleway's Black Orange, drawn four, put in a strong challenge in the short straight but could not quite get past the David Evans-trained youngster, who prevailed by a nose.
Central City was two and quarter lengths away in third place.
Egan said: "She did it well. She was out quick and was very professional, as Dave's horses are. It makes my job easier when they're trained by him. She just had a little bit up her sleeve that we held for the line.
"It's brilliant for Dave and all the team, fantastic."
The winner is named after her part-owner Anthony 'Yogi' Cooke, who said: "I'm really chuffed. Dave was trying to get us a good winner and he's done it now.
"I'm a bit lost for words. I came here with confidence, I thought she'd make the frame but didn't quite think she'd win the race.
"I was a bit nervous waiting for the photo finish, but we got there and that's the main thing."
Yogi's Girl is set for a swift return to action.
Evans said: "She won well last time and we quite fancied her.
"John was great, but he always is here. She had a good draw, whereas some of the other fancied ones weren't drawn so well.
"She'll probably go to York next week (Marygate) and then for the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot."
Kelleway said of Black Orange: "He only cost £3,000, you don't have to pay loads.
"He'll go for the Norfolk at Royal Ascot now, my only regret is that he doesn't have a bigger nose!
"I've 25 two-year-olds and while he's good, I know I've got better, which is pleasing."