Bartley win on Stellite shows benefit of further education; MUSSELBURGH.

Byline: Tom O'Ryan

THERE'S more to race-riding than meets the eye. Ask Gary Bartley. "It's all up here," said the 5lb claimer, pointing to his head after continuing his solid start to the season with a winner on his only ride on the card.

Bartley produced Stellite, trained by Jim Goldie, with a searing late run to gain a slender victory in the 7f handicap (a race Stellite also won 12 months ago), taking his score for the season to four winners from 18 rides. That is a creditable tally, given that he rode only six winners last year from 140 mounts.

Bartley, who had ridden 18 winners in 2007, went to the Northern Racing College for extra tuition in February and feels it did him the world of good.

"I had three days down there and it wasn't just about the riding, it was about talking things through and getting some perspective on things," he said. "David Griffiths was a big help to me and so was Kevin Darley, who spent time with me on the final day I was there. It's all about what's going on in your head and having confidence, and I feel a lot happier with things now." Goldie said: "Gary rode a good race there. It's done him good to get some sound advice. He's riding well." Phillip Makin is riding well too, and he had a double on Legal Legacy in the 7f handicap and La Zamora in the 5f maiden. "It wasn't a great race, but they can only beat what they're up against, and she's done it well. Five furlongs is her trip; she didn't get home over six furlongs last time," said winning trainer David Barron of La Zamora.

Legal Legacy was described as "still a baby" by trainer Michael Dods. "He showed a good attitude and is going the right way. He should stay further in time, being a son of Beat Hollow." The market told the story of the 5f juvenile maiden, in which Reignier, backed at 14-1 earlier in the day, ran out a decisive 5-1 winner for trainer Karl Burke and owner Philip Richards.

Winning jockey Andrew Elliott, who overcame a high draw, said: "He was clueless at Nottingham on his first run, but he learned plenty and he carried me into the race today. I like him." Lucayan Dancer gained his 13th career success when coming late and fast to win the 1m1f seller for David and Adrian Nicholls, while Thunder Bay scored a gritty win in the 5f handicap for Richard Fahey, his trainer and owner, and jockey Paul Hanagan.

The 1m6f apprentice handicap went to Monte Pattino. Rated just 54 and sent off at 25-1, the Colin Teague-trained five-year-old broke his duck at the 11th attempt under Lance Betts. Remarkably, the gelding is a brother to no less a horse than Fantastic Light.

"We bought him for about 5,000gns, unraced, but he didn't have his mind on the job as a colt, so we gelded him. It took him time last year to get over that, but he's starting to get it together now," said Teague..

Star performance Gary Bartley's confident success on Stellite Shorter and sweeter " If they don't get home, they get stuffed, it's as simple as that" - trainer David Barron on the lack of stamina shown by La Zamora over 6f last time at Doncaster, following the filly's win over the minimum trip yesterday Which brother to a multiple Group 1 winner caused a shock in the apprentice handicap? Results and analysis, page 68

CAPTION(S):

Gambled-on Reignier (Andrew Elliott, centre) beats Final Ovation (right) and Maison Brillet in the opener