IN the space of 10 seconds George Duffield turned from punters' villain to hero at York yesterday. Supporters of the well-backed Pasternak were probably cursing as the veteran jockey ran into numerous traffic jams in the Booker Chefs Larder Handicap.
With a furlong to go, the Mark Prescott-trained colt was trapped on the rails with eight horses in front of him.
But, eventually switched to the outside, Pasternak flew past his rivals to lead in the final 100 yards and defeat Obelas by three parts of a length.
Asked whether that was one of the rides of the season, Duffield said: "It could have been the cock up of the season. It's fortunate we got out of trouble."
After 69 losers on the trot, John Stack ended his drought when steering Gone Savage to victory in the Newington Hotel York Racegoers Handicap.
The consistent eight-year-old came with a strong late run to defeat Stuffed by one-and-a-quarter lengths.