Spirit Mixer produces 25-1 Northumberland Plate surprise
A close second to top-class stayer Trueshan in 2023, Andrew Balding's charge could finish only ninth 12 months ago and went off at 25-1 on this latest visit to Gosforth Park for a race affectionately known as the 'Pitmen's Derby'.
Bred in the purple as a son of Frankel and owner Jeff Smith's Group One-winning mare Arabian Queen, Spirit Mixer was delivered with his challenge in the home straight and knuckled down to get the better Dancing In Paris by a neck under a delighted Rob Hornby, who travelled north for a solitary ride.
Spirit Mixer comes out on top in the Northumberland Plate!
The son of Frankel digs deep to take the prize at the third attempt, getting the better of Dancing In Paris on the run for home for @rob_hornby18 and @AndrewBalding2 at @NewcastleRaces! pic.twitter.com/sVKYwb2UA2
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 28, 2025
'He was never a 25-1 shot in my head. I've won big races on him before and he was coming in off the back of a really good run at Goodwood,' said the jockey.
'I could have gone to Windsor and had four or five rides, but I wanted to come and ride him. He's a horse that's done no harm to me and it's fantastic to get that sort of reward today.
'There's a great crowd here today – I don't usually make the trek up north this far! I put it in my Sat Nav and it's just over five hours to get home, so this will make it a bit easier.'
Jockey Rob Hornby with Spirit Mixer after winning the Northumberland Plate (Scott Heppell/PA)
He added: 'He's such a cool horse, he's seven years old now and a beautifully-bred homebred of Mr Smith's. He's just thriving and really enjoying his racing at his tender age.
'The race went pretty smooth. I thought I was jostling for the lead early enough, but he got into a battle and outstayed them then inside the last furlong.
'It's important to be riding winners on Saturdays in these big races and I've been fortunate enough to win a July Cup in these colours (on Alcohol Free), they mean a great deal to me, as does riding winners for Kingsclere.
'What a joy he is to own and to train and to ride.'
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