EVEN a spate of non-runners caused by heavy overnight rain failed to put a dampener on an excellent day of racing on Sunday.

The Salisbury Family Fun race day was dominated by trainer Andrew Balding as punters soaked up the warm summer sun.

Balding, who trained a treble on the card, landed the Westover Group Handicap with Desert Command, division one of the Wateraid Mildren Construction Maiden with Blond Me and the feature British Stallion Studs EBF Cathedral Stakes with Absolutely So. David Probert was the man on board the latter two as he claimed a riding double at the Netherhampton course.

In the other races Elysian Fields scored a cosy success in the opening Peter Symonds Catering Handicap. The Wateraid Mildren Construction Maiden was won by a battling Iconic whilst Roger Varian’s Ya Latif made the trip from Newmarket a rewarding one by landing the CPA Scaffolding Fillies’ Handicap.

Patrick O’Donnell and Timothy Jarvis combined to win the last race of the day, The Racing Excellence Apprentice Handicap, as Italian Beauty caused an upset coming in at 14/1.

Reflecting on the day’s action, Clerk of the course Jeremy Martin was extremely pleased with proceedings.

He said: “Despite the non-runners, which was as of a consequence of the lack of heavy rain on Friday night, which a few trainers had wanted, we had some excellent racing including a very close finish in the 6 Furlong Maiden Stakes for 2-year-olds. A crowd of circa 4,500 were welcomed on what was a good betting day for the majority of punters.”

Salisbury’s next meeting is on the June 24 forwhen it will host the 2015 renewal of the Ashbrittle Stud Bibury Cup. For information go to salisburyracecourse.co.uk or call 01722 326461.