Zaahid scores for Hill clan

Racing : Zaahid showed real determination to bag a bumper prize in the Victoria Cup at Ascot.

Trained by Barry Hills and ridden by his son, Richard, the well-supported 5-1 joint favourite came with a strong run to seize the initiative at around the one-furlong pole.

He was tracked through by the other joint-favourite, Al Khaleej, who saw his race out strongly without ever looking quite as though he could master the winner.

Zaahid grabbed victory by a neck over Ed Dunlop's charge, while well-fancied duo King Of Dixie and We'll Come emerged from the pack to claim third and fourth respectively.

The winning jockey said: "He's a really genuine horse. "He's got better and better and when he put his head in front, you knew he wouldn't let anyone get by.

"I gave him too much to do in the Spring Cup so going back to seven (furlongs) was never going to be a problem," Hills told BBC Sport.

© 2008 The Irish Times