SALISBURY Racecourse's uncanny knack of attracting blue skies to its meetings was very much in evidence on Friday evening.

The heavy showers and dark clouds that had dominated the day disappeared just before the gates opened for the Nether-hampton track's ninth meeting of the year.

Although the attendance was slightly down on the last year's corresponding meeting, clerk of the course, Jeremy Martin, was delighted with proceedings.

"We were really lucky the rain stopped when it did. We were roughly 500 down on last year, but we have to be happy with that bearing in mind how awful the weather was up until 2pm."

There were mixed fortunes for punters with two odds-on favourites being beaten during the evening.

However, Milly Fleur (Evens fav.) in the Goadsby & Harding Managers Mai-den Stakes and Penelewey (7-4 fav.) in the finale - the Saffie Joseph & Sons Fillies' Rated Stakes, proved popular results.

Martin added: "A big cheer greeted the result of the photo finish as Penelewey just held on by a short head. It was a good way to end the evening."

Any concerns about the rain's affect on the track proved unfounded. "The ground was on the soft side of Good without a doubt after 18mm of rain fell in just seven hours," explained Martin.

"That's why the jockeys tracked over the Stands rail where the ground is often a bit better after heavy rain."

The course is now preparing for its major two-day meeting on August 13-14 which features three Listed races, including Salisbury's first ever £50,000 race - The Sovereign Stakes.