MAGICAL CAMILLA made all in the Arena Racing Company Angel Of The North Final at Newcastle to provide veteran trainer Michael Fieldson with his biggest success.

However, the story of the bitches-only GBGB Category Two contest was far from straightforward with the October 2020 daughter of  Droopys Buick and Burgess Sarah ultimately only winning by a short-head to claim the £6,000 prize.

Quickly into stride on her way to a slick 3.59sec sectional, Magical Camilla raced into a long lead and looked to have the race in safe-keeping at the halfway point, with favourite and fastest semi-final winner Greenwell Elle held up at the turn.

However, John Flaherty’s bitch conjured up a huge run to reduce the deficit steadily and kept on well up the home-straight to draw alongside the winner on the line, losing out by the minimum margin to the 28.65sec (normal) winner for the 480m trip.

In succeeding last year’s winner Crystal Alice, Magical Camilla justified the promise shown by the two-year-old since joined Sunderland trainer Fieldson after being bought by a team of owners led by John Reay who was on hand to collect the trophy.

Ian Walton, Newcastle general manager, congratulated connections and said: “It was literally a magical night for Sunderland trainer Michael Fieldson!

“Everyone loves an underdog story and Magical Camilla at the start of the competition was just that. However, she showed exceptional early pace and that’s what ultimately put the final to bed, albeit it was a really exciting finish in the end.

“Greenwell Elle really ate into the lead all the way to the line and there was a tense minute or so for the winners while the judge studied the photograph. Magical Camilla landed an 8-1 victory but this Category Two win was absolutely no fluke.

“She won it very much on merit in a quick time of 28.65sec and clearly it’s fair play to Michael for getting the best out of her. He’s not had her for long but what a great performance on the night – so well done to him and her owners.

“Connections celebrated on the podium and you could see how much this meant to everyone involved. Congratulations to all concerned.”