Superlative effort from Isaac Shelby at Newmarket | Racing News

Brian Meehan’s Isaac Shelby knuckled down and showed plenty of guts to maintain his unbeaten record in the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

A taking three-and-a-half-length winner on debut at Newbury in May, the decision to bypass Royal Ascot paid dividends as the famous Sangster silks were carried to success in the seven-furlong Group Two contest.

The 3-1 winner was to the fore in the early stages as the field of five were closely packed together in a race run at a moderate pace in the opening furlongs.

Things hotted up as the pack approached the two-furlong pole and push became shove almost simultaneously for the high-class quintet taking part.

It was Meehan’s son of Night Of Thunder that picked up best, but he was soon challenged by Charlie Appleby’s Victory Dance and the duo, who pulled clear of the third Dark Thirty – who was done no favours when Isaac Shelby drifted to his left – became embroiled in a titanic tussle in the closing stages.

Although briefly headed, Sean Levey was able to conjure up a little bit more from his mount to regain the advantage in the shadow of the post and return a winning verdict of a head.

He now appears set to dine at the top table for the rest of his juvenile campaign, with Paddy Power trimming the colt to 25-1 from 50-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas.