Tag Archive for: Sandown

Sandown Eyecatcher Skellet will be making amends

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Ralph Beckett’s Skellet can surely be marked up after her third-place finish in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.

The Kingman filly was having just her second run of the season, having disappointed at Epsom when favourite for a Group Three at the Derby meeting.

She clipped heels and almost came down in the early stages before staying on powerfully behind two highly progressive fillies and will be winning soon herself, possibly over further than the mile she faced here.

God Of War gives Tom Clover a first Sandown win

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Tom Clover ended his long wait for a Sandown winner when God Of War relished the soft ground to strike in the Download The BetMGM App Handicap.

Ridden the last twice by Rossa Ryan, it was his after-race advice that paid dividends with David Egan the beneficiary in the saddle aboard the 11-1 shot as he registered a half-length success.

“It’s a monkey off our back to get the first Sandown winner, we’ve been stood over there in the placed spots a lot of times,” said the trainer’s wife, Jackie Clover.

“Rossa has ridden him the last twice and kept saying seven furlongs on easy ground and David has reaped the rewards.

“We’ve always thought quite a lot of this horse and things haven’t always gone to plan, but hopefully now he can get a bit of confidence and he can go on and do what we hoped he would do.”

The Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes was won by 1000 Guineas runner-up Flight last year and Alan King will be dreaming Deedaydiva has some big days ahead after obliging favourite-backers at 2-1.

Third behind Simon and Ed Crisford’s top-class prospect Zanthos at Newmarket on debut, the daughter of Churchill took the required step forward to confirm her handler’s lofty opinion with a bloodless two-length success in the hands of Hector Crouch.

“For mine to run so well first time at Newmarket, we were delighted, and she has been a very straightforward filly with a great mind on her,” said King.

“She came out of Newmarket lovely and has done it well today.

“I always thought she wanted a wee bit of dig, but she’s very straightforward and I’m very pleased with her.

“I’ve never had a two-year-old filly this good so I’ll have to go home and have a think about things. I do think she is pretty smart and we’ll enjoy today and have a look at the options. We think she is good.”

A Bit Of Spirit shows plenty of heart in thrilling Solario finish

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A Bit Of Spirit continued Clive Cox’s good recent run when coming out on top in a tremendous four-way finish to the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown.

The most experienced runner in the field having had four previous starts, Rossa Ryan set out to put that experience to good use by heading to the front in the Group Three affair.

He looked something of a sitting duck two furlongs out, as Royal Ascot winner Humidity, Brian Meehan’s Oceans Four and eventually Pacific Avenue, who was off the bridle a long way from home, made it a four-way go, each of them briefly looking the likely winner at some stage.

Pacific Avenue was first to fold and finished a clear fourth, albeit beaten less than half a length, while Oceans Four was leaning into Humidity by now, but was marginally in front of him. A Bit Of Spirit battled back, however, and crucially had his head down where it mattered.

A photo was called, and it was Cox – who won a valuable prize at York last week with Song Of The Clyde – who heard his horse called the winner. Oceans Four crossed the line in second and the Andrew Balding-trained Humidity in third, but those placings were reversed by the stewards

Cox said: “He’s got remarkable courage and really digs deep. He’s so tough, I think he was beaten for a minute and has got back up and I’m so proud.

“We had no idea if he would cope with condition this easy and certainly we haven’t seen any ground like this all summer, but he’s all heart and so tough and I’m very pleased.

“He’s done nothing but improve with confidence and with that confidence he has displayed more ability, but the fighting quality has been there from the get go.

“Even on his first start he showed those qualities and even though he was quite green at that stage he’s got more battle-hardened now and is displaying more and more courage.

“Rossa was great there and he had all confidence he would handle the ground and it was proved rightly that was the case. I’m thrilled he’s taken this step today.”

A Bit Of Spirit holds a plethora of entries for top two-year-old contests in the latter stages of the season and Cox is now keen to continue aiming high.

He added: “I’m pleased to enjoy today and I think he’s a tough, hardy two-year-old so we can keep pushing with that in mind.

“Now we know he handles the ground we can plot accordingly and he’s got all the options wide open.

“He’s well entered and he’s in the Royal Lodge, but I’m not sure if we would prefer to stay at seven furlongs and he’s in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France and all those races. I’m just thrilled we can discuss all the options and hopefully make the right decisions.

“From next year’s point of view, we probably stepped up to a mile early enough at Salisbury but the fact he can go on soft ground gives me confidence we can keep going this year and hopefully he may develop further next year.

“I’m delighted for the owners (Paul and Clare Rooney) who have been big supporters and it’s nice for them to have a horse like this for the big stage. It’s a joy to train nice horses for nice people and a privilege to make a living out of a passion really.”

Roger Varian looking at exciting autumn with Sandown winners

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Roger Varian saw his patience rewarded, as both Lady Of Spain and Saddadd set themselves up for big events in the autumn in giving the Carlburg Stables handler a big-race double at Sandown.

Lady Of Spain headed to the BetMGM Atalanta Stakes with an unbeaten record to protect, but had defy a lengthy absence in her first outing since claiming Listed glory at Deauville in December.

Sent off at 14-1 for what was also her first outing on turf, she made it five from five with a game display to continue climbing the ladder and bring Group One options into play.

The winner was halved in price to 10-1 for the Sun Chariot Stakes by Paddy Power, but Varian has also half an eye on a step up in trip for the Prix de l’Opera at ParisLongchamp on the same weekend.

Speaking from Deauville, Varian said: “The filly is very good, we’ve always thought that and she could be top class.

“It was a hell of a performance today having not run for nine months and also her first run on turf, so you couldn’t be more proud of the way she won the Atalanta.

“We entered her in the Sun Chariot and the Prix de l’Opera and they were not off the cuff entries, we made them because we have a lot of belief in this filly.

“Time will tell if she is a Group One filly, but she is an unbeaten Group Three winner with only five starts under her belt and we have every reason to believe she will be good.”

Saddadd (right) won well at Sandown
Saddadd (right) won well at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

Quickly following on from Lady Of Spain, stablemate Saddadd confirmed the strong impression of his London Gold Cup victory to further advertise his potential in the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap.

Another whom Varian has been careful to bide his time with, the son of Pinatubo made the most of his opportunity to run in optimum conditions, obliging favourite-backers at 3-1.

“Saddadd is a horse we love and always have done and we’ve had to very patient with him,” added Varian.

“I’d like to thank the owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum who has not put any pressure on us to run him over the summer and I think that race will set him up for a strong autumn.

“He’s won off 100 there today and will get another rise in the weights and deserves to take his chance in Listed company next.

“We’ll probably look at something like the Doonside Cup at Ayr or the Fortune Stakes at Goodwood.”

The man in the saddle on both occasions was Ray Dawson, who enjoyed a welcome return to the spotlight by bagging his first two winners since returning from a fractured wrist.

Dawson said: “I’m in at Roger’s most days and everyone wants to get winners for him and Roger spreads the rides out very fairly. To get a winner on a Saturday and a big day like this means the world.”

Varian might have headed into the day possibly thinking his best chance of a big winner was his Royal Hunt Cup hero My Cloud, who was running in the Barriere Prix Quincey at Deauville looking for a fifth straight win.

However, having hit the front over a furlong out under Silvestre de Sousa he tired in the closing stages to finish fifth behind Dreamliner, on what was his first taste of action since his win at the Royal fixture. Charlie Hills’ Cicero’s Gift was second.

Lady Of Spain victory ‘means the world’ to Ray Dawson

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Roger Varian’s Lady Of Spain overcame a lengthy absence to remain unbeaten in winning an eventful BetMGM Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.

Last seen landing a Listed race on the Deauville all-weather track in December, that was her fourth win from four outings.

This represented another step up in class to Group Three company, but she looked to face a tough ask when Colin Keane brought the progressive Blue Bolt down the centre of the track.

She began to idle close home, though, and the Sandown hill claimed another victim as Lady Of Spain (14-1) stayed on strongly under Ray Dawson to win by half a length.

Ralph Beckett’s Skellet ran a remarkable race in third, having clipped heels early and nearly being brought down before making impressive headway on just her second start of the season.

The winner was halved in price to 10-1 for the Sun Chariot Stakes by Paddy Power.

It was Dawson’s first winner since returning from a fractured wrist and he said: “I don’t have an awful lot to do with her at home, Roger spoke to me this morning and said they really like her.

“Obviously she’s not run for a while, had never been on turf and was encountering soft ground, so there were a lot of questions we asked of her and in fairness she answered all of them.

“She’s handled conditions and the time off the track has been no problem, so she seems a proper filly.”

On the importance of the winner, he added: “I’m in at Roger’s most days and everyone wants to get winners for him and Roger spreads the rides out very fairly. To get a winner on a Saturday and a big day like this means the world.”

Publish ruled out of Solario test at Sandown

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Publish will not line up in Saturday’s BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was due to be one of the headline acts in the Group Three contest after running an eyecatching race on debut at the Esher track, before returning to the same venue three weeks later to break his maiden.

However, with 16 millimetres of rain having fallen at Sandown on Friday morning, the going was changed to soft after the fifth race on the track’s afternoon card, prompting connections to withdraw the likely favourite.

His absence leaves Charlie Appleby’s Pacific Avenue as the new market leader after he inflicted a surprise defeat on stablemate Wild Desert when making a winning debut at Newmarket in June.

Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes
Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes (John Walton/PA)

Appleby, who has trained three previous Solario winners, said: “This is a race we have done well in in recent seasons, Pacific Avenue worked nicely on Saturday and the form of his last run has worked out very well.

“The second horse (Wild Desert) came out and was third in the Superlative Stakes and the third, fourth and fifth have come out and won well, so we are going there with a horse that will hopefully be competitive.

“He hasn’t been out since winning his debut in June, but he is in good shape at home and we do feel that the seven furlongs at Sandown will suit him well.

“He is a horse we have always liked and if he could go and hopefully win on Saturday, we could look towards something like a Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere possibly, but that is pie in the sky stuff at the moment and the focus for now is on the Solario.”

Too Darn Hot colt He’s Waliim is an interesting contender for James Tate, turning out 17 days after blitzing his rivals by upwards of six lengths on his introduction at Beverley.

Tate said: “Obviously he was very impressive and he’s a horse we’re excited about, but we’re aware that we are throwing him in at the deep end somewhat, so fingers crossed he can swim.

“His home work had been very smart before Beverley so we were expecting him to win, but they don’t always run up to their homework, so it was nice that he did.

“It’s a field full of unknowns on Saturday and you don’t quite know whether you’re taking on next year’s Guineas winner or a horse that wins the Solario and doesn’t win another Group race, it can vary.

“But we’re happy with our horse, seven furlongs around a bend with a uphill finish and quick-ish ground should suit us down to the ground, so we’ll find out a lot.”

Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot
Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Other hopefuls include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity, who bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes, and Clive Cox’s A Bit Of Spirit, who has won twice and finished second twice in four starts.

Richard Brown, adviser to Humidity’s owners Wathnan Racing, said: “Andrew seems very happy with him and he said he has worked particularly well since Goodwood.

“I don’t think the track suited him particularly well at Goodwood and I’m hoping Sandown and the stiff seven will be more to his liking as I think he will get further in time.

“This is obviously a very strong renewal, as you would expect, but I think the race will set up much better for him than at Goodwood and he will be hitting the line strong.”

Of A Bit Of Spirit, Cox said: “He’s in very good form. He stepped up to a mile last time at Salisbury in the Stonehenge and was beaten by a very nice horse (Morris Dancer).

“We’ll be very happy to step back to seven furlongs at Sandown, he’s in great nick and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Cathedral hunting Atalanta honours for Kevin Philippart de Foy

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Kevin Philippart de Foy is excited to see Cathedral run for the first time in his name when she heads to Sandown for the BetMGM Atalanta Stakes on Saturday.

Despite not adding to her impressive debut success from last autumn, the high-class three-year-old has caught the eye many times in defeat for previous handler Ralph Beckett – including when fourth in the Coronation Stakes – and reverts to a mile on her first outing for Amo Racing’s principal trainer.

“She’s a smart filly and I think she got a bit stuck in the ground in France with the trip a little bit far, so conditions on Saturday should suit her better, providing we don’t get too much rain,” said Philippart de Foy.

“The filly arrived in very good shape from Ralph and we have just kept her ticking along.

“She has some good form and ran a great race at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes. She is definitely an exciting filly for the future.”

The likely favourite is Andrew Balding’s Blue Bolt, who brought up a hat-trick when landing the Listed Coral Distaff over course and distance in July, and will be partnered once again by Colin Keane from a wide draw in stall 11 as she now steps up to Group level.

“She’s been very progressive all year and has had a little break since her win the last day,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“She appears in good form, Andrew’s happy with her. It’s probably not the greatest of draws out in 11, so she’ll have to overcome that, but she’s in a good space and the team at Kingsclere are happy, so we’re hopeful she’ll progress from here.”

Blue Bolt is joined in the line-up by another Juddmonte-owned contender, with the Beckett-trained Skellett also bringing course-and-distance form to the table having won the Fortune Stakes last autumn.

Mahon added: “She’s had a bit of a frustrating season with a few niggly little hold-ups. It’s obviously two and half months since we saw her last when she was disappointing at Epsom and Ralph is happier with her now, she’s in good form and any rain they get at Sandown would probably be beneficial to her.

“She is a filly that is capable of turning up in a race like this, but she might just need a bit of rain to show her best.”

Meanwhile, Roger Varian is intrigued to see how the unbeaten Lady In Spain gets on in her belated seasonal return, as she makes her first appearance at both Group level and on turf in Esher.

Varian said: “There’s a lot to look forward to with Lady In Spain, she’s really talented.

“We met a setback with her after she won at Deauville in December, so we’ve had to be patient, but she’s training really well now and she’s a lovely filly.

“Although she’s a four-year-old, she’s only had the four lifetime starts and I think she’s training and looking better than ever.

“We’re really excited about her heading into the autumn and who knows, maybe next year as well.”

Of the remainder, Ollie Sangster’s 1000 Guineas runner-up Flight drops in grade after three runs at the highest level this term, while John and Thady’s Gosden’s impressive Epsom scorer Spiritual was also seen at the top-table in her most recent outing and is now reverting to slightly calmer waters.

Publish aiming to stamp authority on classy Solario field

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Publish has some big boots to fill when he bids to provide his connections with back-to-back victories in the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

A huge eyecatcher when second on his debut at the Esher venue in early July, John and Thady Gosden’s juvenile comfortably went one better on his return three weeks later and now faces a step up to Group Three level over the same course and distance this weekend.

The Gosdens and owner-breeders Juddmonte not only teamed up to land the Solario with Publish’s sire Kingman in 2013, but also struck gold with this year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes scorer Field Of Gold 12 months ago, so it is no surprise that hopes for their latest candidate are high.

“The Solario is a race that has had a big roll of honour and Publish is a horse we like. He looked good in his two maidens runs, so we’re looking forward to seeing what way he can step up into Group company in what looks a deep enough renewal,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s had a nice break since his last run and John and Thady picked this route, they’ve used it in the past, so we have to be hopeful that he should be capable of a good run, all being well.”

Gosden senior has saddled a record seven winners of this race in all, with Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass (2007) and multiple Group One winner Too Darn Hot (2018) also among them.

Field Of Gold winning last year's Solario Stakes
Field Of Gold winning last year’s Solario Stakes (Steven Paston/PA)

Mahon added: “I think it’s John’s go-to race if he has a nice horse and I’m sure if you look back through the years, there’s plenty there that didn’t win too.

“But if he has a nice two-year-old it seems to be his preferred route, so let’s hope he’s good enough to continue the good run.

“As we know October is action-packed for two-year-olds, so we’ll find out whether we’re good enough to compete in one of the big races or whether you have to lower your sights a little bit.”

Charlie Appleby counts subsequent Derby hero Masar (2017) among his three previous Solario winners and is this year represented by Pacific Avenue, who inflicted a surprise defeat on stablemate Wild Desert when making a winning debut at Newmarket in June.

Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes
Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“This is a race we have done well in in recent seasons, Pacific Avenue worked nicely on Saturday and the form of his last run has worked out very well,” said Appleby.

“The second horse (Wild Desert) came out and was third in the Superlative Stakes and the third, fourth and fifth have come out and won well, so we are going there with a horse that will hopefully be competitive.

“He hasn’t been out since winning his debut in June, but he is in good shape at home and we do feel that the seven furlongs at Sandown will suit him well.

“He is a horse we have always liked and if he could go and hopefully win on Saturday, we could look towards something like a Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere possibly, but that is pie in the sky stuff at the moment and the focus for now is on the Solario.”

Too Darn Hot colt He’s Waliim is an interesting contender for James Tate, turning out 17 days after blitzing his rivals by upwards of six lengths on his introduction at Beverley.

Tate said: “Obviously he was very impressive and he’s a horse we’re excited about, but we’re aware that we are throwing him in at the deep end somewhat, so fingers crossed he can swim.

“His home work had been very smart before Beverley so we were expecting him to win, but they don’t always run up to their homework, so it was nice that he did.

“It’s a field full of unknowns on Saturday and you don’t quite know whether you’re taking on next year’s Guineas winner or a horse that wins the Solario and doesn’t win another Group race, it can vary.

“But we’re happy with our horse, seven furlongs around a bend with a uphill finish and quick-ish ground should suit us down to the ground, so we’ll find out a lot.”

Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot
Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Other hopefuls include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity, who bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes, and Clive Cox’s A Bit Of Spirit, who has won twice and finished second twice in four starts.

Richard Brown, adviser to Humidity’s owners Wathnan Racing, said: “Andrew seems very happy with him and he said he has worked particularly well since Goodwood.

“I don’t think the track suited him particularly well at Goodwood and I’m hoping Sandown and the stiff seven will be more to his liking as I think he will get further in time.

“This is obviously a very strong renewal, as you would expect, but I think the race will set up much better for him than at Goodwood and he will be hitting the line strong.”

Of A Bit Of Spirit, Cox said: “He’s in very good form. He stepped up to a mile last time at Salisbury in the Stonehenge and was beaten by a very nice horse (Morris Dancer).

“We’ll be very happy to step back to seven furlongs at Sandown, he’s in great nick and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Saddadd returning to the fray at Sandown on Saturday

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Roger Varian’s patience could be rewarded when his London Gold Cup hero Saddadd takes the next step of his promising career at Sandown on Saturday.

The exciting son of Pinatubo, who is closely related to Ed Walker’s star performer Almaqam, has like many been kept on the sidelines on account of the dry summer since his taking display at Newbury in May.

However, the Carlburg Stables handler is now hoping conditions can prove suitable in Esher for the talented three-year-old to serve a reminder of his potential in the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap.

Varian said: “We’ve been waiting for the ground with Saddadd and I thought we got away with the ground at Newbury in the London Gold Cup. Hopefully Sandown can catch a few of those forecast showers and he can race on a nice kind surface on Saturday.

“He’s a horse with a big future and he is a big, burly horse, so who knows he might be a bit rusty on Saturday, but hopefully not and he’s been training nicely and he’s a lovely horse for the future.”

A considered approach is also hoped to pay dividends with Raammee who set plenty of tongues wagging with the style he won his opening outing at Kempton.

Carrying the same colours of Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum as Saddadd, it took Varian until the August of his three-year-old season to unleash the son of Persian King, but he delivered in spades with a fast-finishing display that hints at a bright future.

He is set to be kept to calm waters for the time being, with Varian saying: “He’s a lovely horse and I think we’ll turn up in a novice somewhere in September then take it from there.

“We’ll take it slowly and he’s required a degree of patience as you can imagine and we were rewarded with a promising debut effort. We’re now looking forward to seeing how he can build off that.”

Publish in line for what could prove highly-informative Solario Stakes

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Publish is on course to return to the familiar territory of Sandown after he stood out among a stellar set of names entered for the BetMGM Solario Stakes on Saturday.

The son of Kingman was edged out on debut at the Esher track in July, but soon set the second straight when impressing back at Sandown later that month and heads into this Group Three event with his star firmly on the rise.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt is already as short as 10-1 in places for next year’s 2000 Guineas and could now follow in the footsteps of both his father and Clarehaven stablemate Field Of Gold by claiming the Solario.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “This was the initial plan and hopefully that remains the same so we will look forward to seeing him again.

“He’s a beautiful horse, a very big horse and he’s probably more of a three-year-old type. John and Thady have both said he’s not a horse to over-race this year, he’s all about next year.

“He could be exciting, I know he has only won a maiden but we’re hopeful he is able to make the jump into the next grade.”

It was one of Charlie Appleby’s string that denied Publish on debut and the Moulton Paddocks handler could unleash stylish Newmarket novice winner Pacific Avenue in a race he won with subsequent Derby hero Masar in 2017).

Other notables in the 11-strong possibles list include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity and the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Zanthos.

The latter, a daughter of Sioux Nation, cost €1million at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year and it was easy to see why as she scorched to a three-length victory in her July course debut.

She could now be a rare filly to take on the colts in this race, as her team search for the right opportunity to set up high-ranking events later in the season.

“She’s super well and we still haven’t quite figured out what we’re doing with her yet,” said Ed Crisford.

“The fillies’ races at the Curragh (Debutante Stakes) and Goodwood (Prestige Stakes) came a bit quick for her and it would have been bringing her back just two weeks later.

“We’re happy to enter in the Solario against the colts and then see what we think and there’s also novice options.

“We want to run her again before the Rockfel if we can and we just need to take it step by step.”

Publish schedule will follow some classy names

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Publish will follow in the footsteps of some illustrious names when he returns to Sandown for the Betmgm Solario Stakes later this month.

John and Thady Gosden’s son of Kingman is already well accustomed to the Esher track having run there in both of his starts to date, winning impressively last time out when getting the better of Charlie Appleby’s Catullus.

As short as 10-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral for next year’s 2000 Guineas, the exciting colt will now get the chance to not only emulate his father, but also Clarehaven stablemate Field Of Gold who won the Group Three event in the Juddmonte silks 12 months ago.

“He’s a lovely colt and a horse that we like a lot,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“He will probably follow a route similar to Field Of Gold and go back to Sandown for the Solario Stakes on his next start.

“It should suit him going back to Sandown, John and Thady have used that route for some nice horses and obviously Kingman and Field Of Gold are two who have won it. Now he’s had his two runs I think we will stick to that plan.

“James Doyle was very complimentary of him and the only thing he did say was the ground was on the soft side that day and he would appreciate better ground, which is something we’ll bear in mind going forward. But he’s very much a nice colt.”

Hope Queen is Sandown Star for Karl Burke

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Hope Queen finished with a flourish to secure top honours in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes at Sandown.

A clear-cut winner on her Beverley debut a month ago, Karl Burke’s Night Of Thunder filly was a 15-2 shot stepping up to Listed class in the hands of Clifford Lee.

The Charlie Johnston-trained Jennifer Jane proved a tough nut to crack in front, but having initially thrown down her challenge against the far rail, Hope Queen was angled out inside the last of seven furlongs and picked up well to find a gap between horses and get up to score by a neck.

Lee told Racing TV: “I always knew I was going to there at some point. I was kind of locked up in behind horses wondering which was going to fade away and which one was going to keep going, but once I got a clear run I always knew she was going to gallop to the line.

“She’s definitely not shy, even though she’s a filly she’s quite bullish in that way.

“After her first win at Beverley we knew she’d be a nice filly and it’s nice to get a Listed win today.

“Off that run today I’d nearly stick at seven furlongs or go to a mile in these better grade races. She galloped to line nicely and handled the ground very well.”

Publish is the new favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas with Coral after adding his name to an illustrious roll of honour in the Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Subsequent Guineas heroes Kameko (2009) and Ruling Court (2024) both made a winning debut in this race in recent years, while Nostrum (2022) and Arabian Crown also struck gold before going on to bigger and better things.

John and Thady Gosden’s Publish looked a winner in waiting when coming from an unpromising position to finish second to Pacifica Pier three weeks ago and went one better as the 4-7 favourite under James Doyle, leading for much of the way and seeing off his chief market rival Catullus by a length and a quarter.

“He obviously ran a nice race here first time out, he took a step forward for that, the second (Catullus) has got solid form and he won well,” said Thady Gosden.

“He’s always looked a nice type, he’s by Kingman and has a great attitude. He’s got plenty of stature to him and hopefully he’s a horse that will keep on progressing.

“We’ll see (where we go next), he’s done lots of growing, he’s a big boy now and we’ll see how he comes out of the race, but he might want a bit of time to develop.”

Coral make the Juddmonte-owned Publish their 8-1 market leader from 20-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas, but Paddy Power and bet365 offer more generous odds of 16-1.

The Juddmonte silks were in the winner’s enclosure for a second time on the afternoon after Andrew Balding’s Tarriance (5-2) denied Pendragon a four-timer in the George Lindon-Travers Memorial Handicap.

Andrew Balding’s Tarriance was making his handicap debut having won once and placed twice in three outings in maiden and novice company and the son of Frankel showed a willing attitude to beat 5-4 favourite Pendragon by half a length.

Winning jockey Oisin Murphy said: “He showed a very good attitude, we obviously went very steady.

“We got racing early, from the bottom of the straight, and I tried not to press ‘go’ and ask him too soon, but I liked his attitude and he’s progressive.”

Hayynah could be another to Star for Sangster

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Hayynah may be the only runner in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes yet to register a victory, but is backed to give Ollie Sangster a third straight success in the Sandown Listed event.

The daughter of Showcasing has shown great potential when hitting the crossbar in two outings to date and her handler is optimistic a step up to seven furlongs can see her thrive in a race he has made his own in recent years.

Sangster said: “She’s the only one in there who hasn’t won, but we feel her seconds have been good performances that can be marked up a bit.

“I hope the step up to seven furlongs will bring about some improvement and she’s a home bred of owner Ahmad Ziad Galadari so it would be nice to go there and pick up some black type.”

It was Shuwari who helped advertise Sangster’s ability as a trainer when landing this race in 2023, and after Celestial Orbit repeated the dose 12 months ago, the Manton handler admits the pressure was on to find another suitable candidate for this year’s contest.

He added: “It’s been a lucky race for us so I wanted to find something nice for it. I’m not sure she’s of the calibre of the fillies we’ve run in the race the last two years, but she seems to be progressing.

“There’s only 10 days between this and her last run at Windsor which is perhaps a little soon, but I don’t think she had an overly hard race last time and hopefully the stiff nature of the finish at Sandown might be beneficial for her.

“It’s not a big field but there’s some nice fillies in there who have won good maidens, so no doubt there is a bit of depth to it.”

Hayynah is among a field of eight for the feature event on Thursday’s card, with Richard Hannon’s taking Newmarket scorer Orion’s Belt chief leading the opposition.

John and Thady Gosden won this with Inspiral in 2021 and rely on Albany Stakes seventh Nandita, who steps up in trip while dropping in grade, with Charlie Johnston is another to win this race in recent years and his Jennifer Jane is already proven over the distance after a runaway win at Wetherby on her second start.

Edward Smyth-Osbourne’s Haydock scorer Tavana, Karl Burke’s Hope Queen and James Ferguson’s Electoral College have all raced once and one once, with Eve Johnston Houghton’s Mystic Moment the most experienced in the field and set to make her fifth start after opening her account at Epsom.

Monday Musings: A Star Is Born

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A star is born. That’s right, another from that dastardly Aidan O’Brien nursery, especially if your name is Gosden anyway, writes Tony Stafford. I noticed John, the elder of that father-son combine, bravely smiling straight after his hotpot Ombudsman had been mugged close to home by Ryan Moore and Delacroix in the 50th edition of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday.

Coral had done a splendid promo job, obliterating the previous 90 years’ existence of a race that has always been the province of Classic-standard horses. You wouldn’t get Doncaster, for example, minimising the St Leger’s two centuries’ plus existence for the minor detail of this year’s sponsor.

The racecard on Saturday listed previous winners, from Wollow in 1976 to City Of Troy last year, and that caused me to a momentary – “he wasn’t”.

Surely Wollow I thought was earlier than that, but no of course it was Wollow’s sire, Wolver Hollow, both colts trained by Henry Cecil, that had won the race in 1969. The 1976 champion, Italian-owned, was ridden by Frankie’s father, Gianfranco.

As me and my friend Dick McGinn, who sadly died of cancer a few years ago in Australia after emigrating there, waited at home to see the superb mare Park Top we thought would win that 1969 race, when along came Wolver Hollow and Lester Piggott to give the future Sir Henry his first big win. It was also my final losing bet as a single man – at that stage!

Everyone, including my parents, were already in place as best man Dick and I quickly left the house and sprinted down to St John-at-Hackney Church for my wedding. On arrival, as he searched his pockets for the ring, we learnt that the bridal car was on its third circuit! Sorry dear, better late than never!

I got rather excited last week about a ride in a handicap chase at Uttoxeter. Many were equally enthralled by Ryan Moore’s performance on Delacroix, whose chance coming to the furlong pole looked so remote that one exchange punter managed to secure £2 at 330/1!

But the last furlong at Sandown can seem almost as far as not-yet-forgotten Towcester where a ten-length lead over the last fence wouldn’t guarantee success up its Himalaya-like gradient. Sandown isn’t so steep, but when they’ve gone a solid pace and set out for home early enough, as William Buick did on impressive Royal Ascot winner Ombudsman, that can often be a recipe for disappointment.

While not disagreeing with the general view of Ryan’s latest Group 1 masterclass, he did have a more than willing ally in Delacroix. Neither jockey nor trainer seemed to have expected the sudden burst of speed he unleashed from 150 yards out, when coming from last in what seemed like a flash.

He certainly did flash home, passing all five opponents, including Classic winners Ruling Court (Charlie Appleby, 2,000 Guineas), and his stablemate Camille Pissarro (Prix du Jockey Club) in that final half-furlong. His display in the winner’s enclosure when he promised either to trample or squeeze into the rails anyone silly enough to get on the smaller than usual line in the winner’s photo, suggested he had the energy to have gone round again.

Reduced to an onlooker in the Derby after a troubled run as the race panned into another O’Brien/Coolmore colt in Lambourn’s favour - and that horse lost nothing in reputation by following up at the Curragh – now the more lucrative ten-furlong route for a future stallion is wide open for Delacroix.

The Gosdens and their other big owning connection, Juddmonte, could have taken Irish Guineas and superb St James’s Palace winner Field Of Gold to the Sandown race, but that superb grey colt is firmly on target and odds-on for the Sussex Stakes next month at Goodwood.

Then it will be off to York for the Juddmonte should all go to plan close to the Solent and another of those long sponsorships, at York, where the Juddmonte International will have a massive place in their affections. Watch out, that’s where they will undoubtedly be encountering Delacroix.

Who knows? Just a year on from City Of Troy’s disappointing showing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, by November time, Delacroix might have forced his way into earning a similar challenge and finally win the race for O’Brien. It’s 25 years if you can believe it since the Iron Horse, Aidan’s 2000 Coral-Eclipse winner Giant’s Causeway, agonisingly failed by only a neck to hold off Tiznow at Churchill Downs.

These days, the old “keeping themselves to their own” breeding policy between Coolmore and Godolphin is no more. According to my chosen source of record, Delacroix is one of ten produce of Godolphin’s prime stallion Dubawi among the Ballydoyle three-year-old division and there are also 13 juveniles. His dam is the champion international miler Tepin, making him a fantastic out cross for all those Galileo mares.

Delacroix’s success will make this autumn’s auctions for his yearlings even more a competition between the two prime powers in racing, although of course Godolphin has all the home-breds of Dubawi it wants.

To counterbalance that, Coolmore’s star, the 300k a pop Wootton Bassett has five representatives among Charlie Appleby’s team of juveniles, but none of the Classic generation. The former French-based sire hadn’t yet announced his true talent before switching to Ireland for the 2022 breeding season.

Meanwhile, the principal Godolphin buying team of Anthony Stroud and David Loder will equally be scanning the sales to see which of the Wootton Bassetts is to be targeted. Loder, I heard from Charlie Appleby on Saturday, has had some successful surgery on his eyes and he’ll be seeing them coming, according to Charlie, from a mile off!

Sandown otherwise had a nice, varied programme backing up the big race and it was only by a neck that William Knight’s nine-year-old Sir Busker failed to match Delacroix’s last to first effort with a flying second at 22/1 in the finale. In his case there were seven horses to pass from last place a furlong from home, but as Brandon Wilkie brought him wide with that rattling finish, they were just foiled by the James Tate-trained Flying Frontier, whose trainer was quizzed afterwards.

Stewards habitually want to know why horses run better than expected, perform worse than expected or are beaten favourites. That’s racing, gents or ladies. I know that Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds’ syndicate owners of Sir Busker have had seven wins including at Royal Ascot, from 58 runs and 660k in earnings.

His later career was hampered by a freak injury when turf flicked up into an eye at Meydan but he came back as bravely as ever and can be a force in these handicaps for a while longer. I would hope the handicapper refrains from raising his mark above 100 once more, but sentiment isn’t much part of their make-up.

Dubawi is also the sire of another of Saturday’s winners, the Richard Hannon-trained Classic, running in the colours of Mrs Julie Wood. He won a £63k handicap in great style earlier on the card, making all under Sean Levey.

Mrs Wood normally recruits her horses in foal sales, but made an exception with Classic, sold as a yearling by Newsells Park Stud for 260,000gns, a price she would never expect to pay for a foal. On the way he won on Saturday there will be much more to come from him.

- TS

Sandown Eyecatcher She’s Quality can end frustrating run

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She’s Quality can surely bag herself a major sprint prize before the season is out judged on yet another excellent effort in defeat at Sandown.

Runner-up in the Palace House at Newmarket and the Temple Stakes at Haydock on her previous two starts for Jack Davison, the four-year-old adopted even more forceful tactics in Sandown’s Coral Charge, showing blistering speed for much of the five-furlong contest.

In the end she was mowed down late by Rumstar and had to make do with the silver medal once more, but if she can get loose on the lead again, perhaps on a less demanding track like Goodwood or York later this summer, she could take some pegging back.