YOUNG Rascal and Morando shared the spoils in a dead-heat thriller as Newbury racecourse held their final flat meeting of the season on Saturday.

The duo could not be split in the £60,000 Group Three Teddington Royal British Legion Stakes (2.50pm) over one mile and four furlongs.

Young Rascal, well-backed throughout the day, sat second in the early stages of the race before cruising into the lead with a quarter-mile remaining.

He looked to have the race won for most of the final furlong, but Morando ran on strongly close home to force a dead-heat, the first in the race’s history, on the line. The winning time was 2min 38.54secs on ground described as good to soft, soft in places.

Young Rascal, owned by Investec managing director Bernard Kantor, is now unbeaten in three starts at Newbury, which included success in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup in September.

The three-year-old son of Intello was also providing William Haggas with a second victory in the race, following Beaten Up’s 2011 win.

Morando, who ran in the colours of King Power Racing, owned by Leicester City FC chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who tragically died in a helicopter crash later that evening, was stepping up to 12 furlongs for the first time in the G3 contest.

He was Andrew Balding’s third winner of the race after Buccellati in 2008 and Duretto two years ago.

The first two finished four-and-a-half lengths ahead of the third in the 10-runner race, Scarlet Dragon (33/1, Alan King/Martin Harley)

Isabel De Urbina (Ralph Beckett/Harry Bentley) appeared to clip heels on the turn out of the back straight and was brought down. Both horse and rider were reported to be fine after the incident.

Haggas was recognised as the leading trainer at Newbury this season in an award ceremony (The Newburys) held at the track on Saturday.

Young Rascal, a second winner on the day for the Newmarket trainer was his 16th of the season at the course. He has operated at a 33 per cent strike-rate and amassed £235,000 in prize money at the Berkshire venue.

The Somerville Lodge handler said: "I thought Young Rascal was going to win nicely at one stage, but then he didn't.

"Any Group winner is nice, so we have to be pleased in the end. I learnt a bit about him and I think he will have a nice year next season.

"I was thinking about the Yorkshire Cup, but I'm not sure about going up to that distance now.

"His owner Bernard Kantor will be delighted as he wants him to be quicker than a stayer. I think we'll stick at 12 furlongs.

"The ground is key to Young Rascal. Whatever he does, he wants to avoid fast ground at this stage of his career anyway. The John Porter is in my thoughts, but we'll see."

Anna Lisa Balding, representing her husband Andrew, commented: "We'll take a dead-heat – we're thrilled. Rob gave Morando a beautiful ride.

"I wasn't sure if we had won crossing the line.

"It was great to see he stayed and he has actually stayed on really nicely, which is exciting going forward. We'll see how the horse is and then we'll go from there.

"I thought he stayed all the way to the line and he really got the trip, so it's a good position to be in and a nice question to have answered.

"He's staying in training next year too, so it's exciting. The ground was perfect for him."