HAVING broken Haydock's course record for a two-year-old, Albahr is obviously no slouch but he needed determination as well as speed to land Salisbury's listed race on Friday in dour style.

The Dubawi colt and Power of Beauty had the one-mile race to themselves in the final two furlongs, with the odds-on favourite finally seeing off his rival to win by three quarters of a length before having to survive a stewards inquiry for possible interference in the final furlong as he slightly drifted to his left under pressure.

Ironically Albahr shows more resolution on the track than off it.

"He's a funny character in his work," James Doyle explained. "He waits for others to pass him and thinks he has done enough. He could have got beaten today but he dug in. The ground was a little on the slow side and he would prefer a sounder surface. He's obviously not slow as that Haydock shows but he saw this trip out well."

The opening two races were mirror images of themselves with the favourites set to clinch until faltering close home - but there the similarity ends. Luna Magis was a veteran with 43 previous outings but Pearl Glory had only been out once when making a winning debut at Lingfield.

There had been no easier winner at Salisbury this season when Pride of Hawbridge took an amateur riders mile handicap by 12 lengths last month but a 11lb hike in the weights put paid to his chance in an identical affair and he was easily overhauled by the hat trick seeking Bolly Bullett shortly after half way but just as punters thought they were about to collect their winnings, his stride dramatically shortened in the final furlong and was caught 100 yards out by Luna Magic who had been off the course since March.

The seven-year-old had been under pressure some way out and Brodie Hampson didn't think she would win until she collared the favourite. "I didn't have the best of trips as I was pushed wide but he's game, so game."

The form of The Organiser, who had run well in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and then suffered a troubled passage in Newmarket's July Stakes, was there for all to see. Sent off in front, he was more than two lengths clear a furlong out but Pearl Glory remorselessly drew back the deficit to snatch the spoils on the line.

"She has improved a lot since her first run," reported Daniel Muscott. "She was very more professional today and grown up. She's got a lot of heart and judging by the way she hit the line, I think she will get further when she strengthens."