Louis Vee writes his name into history as the final Flat winner at Warwick

Five runners were loaded into the starting stalls for the Leamington Food & Drink Festival Handicap just after 4.50pm and, 62 seconds later, Louis Vee and College Doll fought out a stirring finish with just a short head between them at the line.

The damp and miserable weather kept the crowd down on what is traditionally one of the busiest days of the year for the course. The morning rain had turned the ground soft, prompting a number of withdrawals, with all seven races run on the sprint course over five and six furlongs.

The action got underway at 1.25pm when 11 runners lined up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Maiden Stakes (Bobis Race). Of the four that had run, Robin Park, who had stayed on to take third place over five furlongs at Pontefract and Quite Smart, a promising second on her debut at Yarmouth on good to soft ground, had the best form credentials.

Quite Smart headed the market ahead of Classic Image, but it was Terror, ridden by Sean Levey, who led them all a merry dance, going to the front over a furlong out and running away from her rivals, beating Robin Park by ten lengths, with Quite Smart back in third.

Persian Bolt was looking to score at the 11th time of asking in the following Breeders Back Racing EBF Maiden Stakes but it was Debit who headed the market to step up on a couple of promising runs in maidens.

Debit ran up to his form, but was no match for Caffeine, a 180,000gns purchase, who went clear in the final furlong for an easy success. The winning margin was four-and-a-half lengths, with Persian Bolt again having to settle for a place, finishing third.

Fever Few and Ginzan disputed favouritism in the Happy Birthday Penny Blackie Fillies’ Handicap, but neither featured in the finish as Serenity Spa ran on strongly to repel Free Rein and make it two wins for Levey on the afternoon.

With the ground cutting up as the afternoon went on, top-weight Mrs Warren did well to overhaul Borough Boy in the final furlong to take the Cathie Matecki’s Diamond Jubilee Handicap, the pair pulling clear of Divertimenti.

The highlight of the card was the fifth, the Class 3 Pauline’s Quirky Performing Arts Cup Conditions Stakes over six furlongs, and Clear Spring looked to have it in the bag when leading two furlongs out.

However, Complicate, a multiple winner in Australia, came with a storming run under Dane O’Neill to win for Godolphin.

O’Neill looked like scoring again as Muzarkash came to tackle leader Amber Crystal in the Caroline’s Vision For Cancer Nursery Handicap, but John Gallagher’s filly was not to be denied, fighting back to win by half a length and completing a riding double for Martin Dwyer, 
successful earlier on Mrs Warren.