Third win in six days for Kelso racehorse trainer Sandy Thomson at Musselburgh flat season finale

Greg Fairley rode the three-year-old bay gelding, owned by Thomson’s wife Quona, to victory in the 1.10pm division-one Burton Roofing Merchants Handicap over a mile and a half.

That first-placed finish in a field of 11, half a length in front of Paul Mulrennan on Kartini, trained by West Yorkshire’s Simon Whitaker, earned a payout of £3,664.

That was Flying Moonlight’s first win at the ninth time of asking, the closest he’d got previously being a second place at Ayr in August with Sean Kirrane in the saddle.

It was also Thomson’s third first place in less than a week, following ones for Marty McFly on Saturday and Florida Dreams the day before, both at Wetherby in West Yorkshire, the former ridden by Danny McMenamin and the latter by Brian Hughes.

“The first-time cheekpieces helped as he has taken time to get the hang of things,” said the Lambden stables boss.

“He’s had a few races, so a bit of a break might be on the cards and he won’t be hurdling for the time being.”

Fairley was one of two Hawick jockeys to make it into the winners’ enclosure at the East Lothian track’s last meeting of this flat-racing season, the other being Jason Hart.

Hart’s 10-3 win – on Rich Belief, trained in Ireland by Karl Thornton – arrived two races on from Fairley’s, in the fifth of eight making up the course’s season finale, the 2.15pm Joe Fanning Fond Farewell Handicap over a mile and almost eight furlongs, also earning £3,664.

The nine-year-old bay gelding finished almost two lengths in front of Fairley riding Galahad Threepwood for Ewan Whillans’ Hawick yard to secure that win.

Wednesday’s season finale also saw Hart manage two second places, on Eversabi for Suffolk’s Jack Jones and Empirestateofmind for North Yorkshire’s John and Sean Quinn, and third, on Grey Fable for Thornton.

Hart’s win on Rich Belief was his fifth in a week after ones on Racing Rocket at Bath last Thursday and Lady Caroline Lamb, Elyam and Concert Boy at Newcastle the day after, the first two trained by North Yorkshire’s Charlie Johnston, the third by Lincolnshire’s Michael Herrington and the last by Selkirk’s Katie Scott.

The last race of the day, at 3.50pm, was dedicated to another of Scott’s horses, Gweedore, a nine-year-old bay gelding now retired after a last outing at Ayr in September.

Called the Thank You for the Fun Gweedore Handicap, that seven-furlong race was won by Bay Breeze, ridden by Duran Fentiman for Tim Easterby’s North Yorkshire yard, at 25-1, landing prize money of £4,187.

Scott’s Black Storm, with Hart in the saddle, was among 12 entries but had to settle for eighth place.

That tribute race was run in recognition of Gweedore’s six wins in 19 visits to Musselburgh, five over seven furlongs and one over a mile, along with six second places and two thirds.

They were among 13 victories all together during a career generating £212,000 in prize money.