WANTAGE trainer Henry Candy is hoping Music Master can gain top sprint honours in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.

The four-year-old colt, whose sire, Piccolo, trained by Mick Channon, was controversially awarded the Group 1 prize in 1994 following the disqualification of Blue Siren, has yet to run over five furlongs.

But he has shown plenty of speed in top company over six furlongs, notably when fourth behind Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Music Master then landed the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last month.

And Candy, who won the York sprint with Kyllachy in 2002, said of his latest contender: “I am very happy with him. At the moment, it’s all systems go.”

The Kingston Warren handler also has a leading fancy on Saturday when Limato runs in the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes.

After two wins on the Kempton Polytrack, the two-year-old captured the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury in smart fashion on his latest outing.

Candy commented: “I’ve been very pleased with his progress – he seems to be going the right way.”

Candy could hardly go into the Ebor Festival in better form, with five winners in the past week, including Listed Race successes for Valonia and Lady Pimpernel.

Valonia landed Pontefract’s richest race of the season – the six-furlong EBF Highfield Farm Flying Fillies’ Stakes, which has a first prize of £28,355 – by a neck from Spinatrix under Harry Bentley.

Lady Pimpernel, meanwhile, sprang a 20-1 surprise in the Listed EBF Stallions Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury.

Dane O’Neill made nearly all of the running on the four-year-old to beat Gifted Girl, from Paul Cole’s Whatcombe yard, by two and a quarter lengths, with the latter meeting plenty of trouble in running.

It completed a 125-1 double for Candy after Music Master’s half-brother, Twilight Son (5-1), made a winning debut in a six-furlong maiden stakes under Fergus Sweeney.

Candy continued his winning spree with a 26-1 double courtesy of Marydale at Kempton and Anya at Windsor, with the pair helping O’Neill to a four-timer on the day.

Charlie Wells, the horse from Eve Johnson Houghton’s Blewbury yard who tested positive for morphine due to what is believed to be contaminated food, scored at Newmarket.

The three-year-old responded well to John Fahy’s urgings to pip My Guardian Angel by a neck in a mile and a quarter handicap.

Johnson Houghton said: “Charlie Wells winning was particularly satisfying as he is going to lose his first win at Chepstow through no fault of his own, so it is great to put it right.”

Rough Courte followed up his Redcar win by landing a Lingfield claiming stakes for Channon’s West Ilsley yard, who also struck with Lunarian at Yarmouth and Aristo-cracy at Chepstow.

Channon’s neighbour, Denis Coak-ley, also enjoyed success with King Calypso at Kempton.