LIN White, company secretary and operations manager at Salisbury racecourse until her untimely death last December, would have approved of the result of Friday night's feature race at the track, writes John Hoskins.

Mrs White, who died at the end of last year at Salisbury District Hospital, always regarded Richard Hughes as her favourite jockey and it was thus highly appropriate the champion jockey should ride the winner of the race named in her honour.

Elite Gardens impressed Hughes as the filly held of a determined challenge from favourite Sulaalaat in the seven furlong juvenile race.

“We didn't go that quick for the first furlong and I don't think she outstayed them,” he said.

“I think she beat them for speed.”

Course chairman Jeff Smith, pictured, admitted to being shocked when his 25-1 shot Gold Prince took the opening one mile maiden in convincing style, demonstrating he has inherited some of his half-sister's ability and temperament.

Cocktail Queen, winner of a group two and a group three in France, was a far more formidable opponent forcing the pace rather, but Gold Prince, who already bears the stamp of a three-year-old, ran out a comfortable three and a half length winner.

“It's not that he's ungenuine but we decided to ask him to make it and see what he would do. He did it well,” Smith said.

Perfect Muse quickly regained the winning thread when delivered with a blistering late challenge in the five furlong handicap.

Robert Havlin partnered the maiden Black Granite for the Wimborne-based ABC partnership in the Nursery Handicap Stakes.

Eve Johnson Houghton's Ganymede took the Harriet Hodgkinson 18th Birthday Handicap Stakes.