Bielsa conquers Scotland as Yorkshire raider named after Leeds United boss records stunning victory in Ayr Gold Cup

Marcelo Bielsa had to settle for a point at Newcastle - but there was no stopping his namesake at Ayr.
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Less than 24 hours after Leeds United's 1-1 draw at Newcastle United, six-year-old gelding Bielsa went off a 15-2 shot for Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup and stormed to victory under jockey Kevin Stott as the sole horse to stick to the near rail.

The horse is trained in Yorkshire by Kevin Ryan and was bred by Whites fan Steven Parkin who honoured the Whites head coach with the naming of the racehorse.

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Bielsa - the horse that is - has since been sold to King Power Racing, owned by Leicester City chairman Top Srivaddhanaprabha.

OUT IN FRONT: Bielsa, ridden by Kevin Stott, storms to victory in Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup. Picture by Jeff Holmes/PA Wire.OUT IN FRONT: Bielsa, ridden by Kevin Stott, storms to victory in Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup. Picture by Jeff Holmes/PA Wire.
OUT IN FRONT: Bielsa, ridden by Kevin Stott, storms to victory in Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup. Picture by Jeff Holmes/PA Wire.

Great Ambassador, the 3-1 favourite, stormed clear of his rivals on the far side inside the final furlong, but Bielsa was two and a quarter lengths clear passing the post.

Trainer Ryan, winning the Ayr Gold Cup for a fifth time, told ITV Racing: "I spoke to Alistair Donald (racing manager for winning owners King Power Racing) this morning and said 'we're on the rail, it's fresh ground, and he likes to go that way anyway'.

"It's great to train a winner like this for King Power. They've been very patient with this horse and I'm chuffed really.

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"He's a very talented horse. It just hasn't happened this year. Things go wrong and you get little niggles, but that's what gets you an Ayr Gold Cup - they generally get there fresh and well.

"We've won four Ayr Gold Cups and you wonder if you're going to win another one.

"They were all Group horses and this horse is a Group horse."

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