EAST Berkshire resident Peter Ridgers was still feeling hoarse this week after cheering his horse, Harry Angel, to victory in the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury last Saturday.

“We knew he was good, but that run was better than we expected,” said Ridgers.

“To see him cruise home in a Group 2 race was fantastic.

“This was only his second run and we believe he is the first maiden ever to win the Mill Reef.”

The two-year-old had finished second first time out at Ascot.

He was then scheduled to run at Goodwood, but played up in the stalls and had to be withdrawn.

He dislocated some teeth and hurt his jaw. He was all wired up with a gum shield and ran with the shield in on Saturday.

Harry Harvey Angel, trained by Clive Cox at Hungerford and ridden by Adam Kirby, went off as 2-1 favourite in a seven-runner field for the six-furlong race.

“He looked a bit keen and fresh to start with, but that was only natural for a horse only having his second run,” said Ridgers, who played football and cricket for Bracknell clubs in his younger days.

“Around half way he was looking very comfortable and two furlongs to go went into the lead. Come a furlong from home there was only going to be one winner.”

Ascot resident Ridgers collected his trophy from Ian Balding, who trained Mill Reef to win 1971 Epsom Derby.

He will also receive a cheque for more than £42,000.

Amazingly, it was seven years to the day when Jimmy Styles, owned by Ridgers and trained by Cox, won the Ayr Gold Cup.

Harry Harvey Angel’s victory didn’t go unnoticed by the mega-rich Godolphin organisation and it has been rumoured they might try to buy him.

“That doesn’t come as a surprise, but they will need to make a very big offer to tempt us,” added Ridgers. “Clive says he is definitely good for a Group 1 race next year and could now go to Royal Ascot.”