Meehan Has A Great Weekend

Brian Meehan has enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend more than most and ended it in style with the victory of Gerfalcon in the Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy.

After the impressive victory of Most Improved at Newmarket on Friday and Mehdi in the valuable sales race at Headquarters on Saturday, Meehan would have been feeling pretty content.

And in Gerfalcon, he has another who looks capable of competing in some of the leading two-year-old races later in the season.

Apparently undone by the draw at York last time out, he raced keen for Martin Dwyer early before looking outpaced at halfway. Godolphin's previously unbeaten Gold City was still on the bridle when he hit the front but Gerfalcon, the 4-1 joint-favourite, came home to good effect to win by half a length.

The youngster, already a gelding, is owned by Michael Buckley, far better known for his high-class string of National Hunt horses with Nicky Henderson.


Meehan said: "I thought he had a solid chance today as he had a poor draw at York last time. I think he can improve a bit yet, as Martin said he was a little fresh early on but in a fun way.

"He showed a serious turn of foot there and was impressive. We'll look at the Mill Reef and we'll have to consider the sales races. After that he's well up there among my other two-year-olds."

When accosted by Peter Easterby in the paddock, who jokingly told him he had better stick to Cheltenham in future, Buckley replied: "I thought the Easterbys had a go at everything, so I may as well join them! This is my first visit to Ripon."


Meanwhile Theyskens' Theory will have her next start in the Garden City Breeders' Cup Stakes at Belmont Park, New York next month.

The American-owned three-year-old filly returned to winning ways in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown on her last start, beating Modeyra by half a length.

Trainer Brian Meehan has identified the Grade One event as the next target for the daughter of Bernardini, who was sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on her final run as a two-year-old.

He said: "She looked right back to her best at Sandown last time. She is really well, she cantered this morning and is in great form."

News On Borderlescott

Connections of veteran sprinter Borderlescott are in no rush to decide on the gelding's racing future.

Winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes in 2008 and 2009, setbacks have restricted the gallant nine-year-old to just three runs this season, the latest of those coming at York in July.

He is currently sidelined with a pelvic injury, and trainer Robin Bastiman said: "He's doing OK. The plan is to have a look at him in January, take another bone scan and then we'll make a decision as to whether we keep him in training."

The handler added: "It's entirely down to the horse - if there's even a tiny thing wrong then we will retire him as he has done his stuff.

"He's a one-off and I wish I could find another like him."

Sprint Cup Preview

Graham Gibbons will get the leg-up on Hoof It for the first time this season as he has a second shot at Group One glory in Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Mick Easterby's speedster is enjoying a hugely successful campaign, winning a couple of valuable handicaps at York before producing a breathtaking display under top-weight when landing the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood.

The four-year-old returned to the Knavesmire as favourite for the Nunthorpe but, after a tardy start, he and regular partner Kieren Fallon came home a slightly disappointing sixth. With Fallon required at Ascot to ride for his retaining trainer Luca Cumani, Gibbons, who guided Hoof It to three victories in 2010, will be back in the saddle on Merseyside.


Easterby said: "Kieren is going to Ascot, so Graham is going to ride Hoof It. It shouldn't be a problem and Graham is going to ride the horse in work on Tuesday morning. I think the horse should be better back over six (furlongs) and hopefully we get some drying weather."

Gibbons is understandably delighted to have got the call, and is fully anticipating a big run.

He said: "I've won on him a few times before, and I think that had a bearing on it - obviously I am delighted to get back on him. The boss rang me first thing to see if I would be able to ride, and of course I said yes. It would be brilliant for me if he could go and win a Group One.

"Things didn't go right for him at York and the step back up to six can only help. The ground at York was debatable. He is ideally suited by good ground, but he is by Monsieur Bond and he loved it like a bog. He has yet to run on soft ground, so if it did end up like that it would be an unknown."

The two possible Irish challengers are Edward Lynam's Sole Power and Bewitched from the Charles O'Brien stable. The latter was a big disappointment when sent off favourite for the Golden Jubilee, but O'Brien feels she is back to her best.

The trainer said: "She's an intended runner all going well and I'm very happy with her. She was in quite a bad way after Ascot and very sore and it has taken a while to get her right, but I think she's back on song now. She worked after racing at the Curragh on Sunday and I was pleased with her, so fingers crossed she'll run well.

"I don't think the ground matters too much to her, we just don't want extremes either way."

News From Ger Lyons

Lightening Pearl gained a deserved Pattern-race success as the Ger Lyons-trained filly turned the Go And Go Round Tower Stakes into a procession at the Curragh.

Johnny Murtagh enjoyed an armchair ride on the Marju filly, who was third to Maybe in the Debutante Stakes on her last run, pressing the button two furlongs out.

The response was immediate as the 6-4 favourite streaked clear under minimum pressure to score by five lengths from Experience, gaining Group Three honours in the process.

Lyons said: "Sheikh Fahad al-Thani (of Pearl Bloodstock) sent me a good team of horses this year and it's time I repaid him.


"Her run in the Debutante Stakes suggested she was good enough to win this. She's not very big, but has a big heart.

"She was beaten by a very good filly in the Debutante - it looks like the fillies are better than the colts this year.

"She has been Group Two placed and is a Group Three winner now. She has done all I've asked of her.


"I'll look at the Cheveley Park Stakes and the Redcar (Two Year Old) Trophy as there's a big pot for that. A Group One is important, so if we get a chance we'll take it.

"The owner sponsors at Longchamp and there's a mile race there for her, so we'll have to decide about that."

Celebration Mile Preview

Saeed bin Suroor reports Poet's Voice to be back to his best as he bids for a repeat of last year's win in the Betfair Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

The four-year-old was an impressive winner of the Group Two heat 12 months ago and went on to lift the Group One QEII Stakes at Ascot, but disappointed when last seen in the Dubai World Cup back in March and is returning from a 154-day lay-off.

"He's definitely in better form than he was at the start of the year. Frankie (Dettori) rode him one week ago on the Private Gallop and he worked very well, and he had a blow-out on Thursday. He's ready - physically he's in the same shape he was before," Bin Suroor told At The Races.


"He shows plenty of speed, but he could go further than the mile. We tried him in the World Cup, but he didn't handle the Tapeta surface. I think he's back to his best and mentally he's doing really well. He's happy and he's been working really well."


Premio Loco is on something of a retrieval mission as he tries to recapture the kind of form that saw him finish third behind Canford Cliffs in the Lockinge at the start of the year.

The seven-year-old has not tasted victory since claiming the Summer Mile at Ascot last July and trainer Chris Wall thinks he may not have been 100% when he disappointed at Epsom in June. He posted a close-up sixth at Salisbury earlier this month after a short break.

"He ran very well at Newbury in the spring but he didn't run well at Epsom. At the time, our horses were not as healthy as they should have been, so we had to take time to get him fresh and well again," said the Newmarket handler.

"When he ran at Salisbury, he saw less daylight than the Chilean miners down a hole, so you can't take that as a true form guide - he just never got the chance to get out and get racing. He is very well and has come out of the Salisbury race in good nick."


Dubawi Gold, second in the 2000 Guineas in England and Ireland, represents this year's Classic form and he will be trying to atone for a lacklustre show in the Hungerford Stakes last time out.

Trainer Richard Hannon told his website: "Dubawi Gold is the only three-year-old in the field, but the Classic generation came out on top the last three years and he goes there with a decent chance. He did not settle in the Hungerford at Newbury last time, and he is best judged on his two excellent runs in the Guineas."

St Leger Preview

Red-hot Ladbrokes St Leger favourite Sea Moon is now one of just 17 horses left in the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 10.

Sir Michael Stoute's colt trades at 6-4 with the sponsors after streaking away with the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York - his third win in four career starts.

Most of his chief opponents in the betting remain in the mix after the August 23 scratchings deadline, with Godolphin's Blue Bunting still a possibility to attempt to add the race to her strikes in the 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks.


The most notable absentees were Sea Moon's stablemate Fiorente and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Treasure Beach, with the latter's trainer still represented by Seville, Wonder Of Wonders, Apache, Freedom and Regent Street.

Richard Hannon's Census and Tom Dascombe's Brown Panther have been left in while John Gosden, three times a Leger winner so far, has Masked Marvel, Buthelezi and Thimaar to pick from.

A likely outsider will be Whiplash Willie, who won competitive handicaps at Salisbury and Glorious Goodwood earlier this summer and was second in the Melrose at York last week.


Trainer Andrew Balding said: "Whiplash Willie would want plenty of rain that week but the St Leger is certainly an option. He stays well and, while it is obviously a massive jump in class for him, somebody has got to finish third or fourth.

"His sire (Phoenix Reach) ran well in the race and he is tough, he just wouldn't want the ground too fast. It was a good effort at York last week. He travelled well and he is improving with each run, so we are very pleased with him.

"He is going to be a fun horse for next year and it will be nice to have a fun day out at Doncaster - hopefully he can run well."

Leicester Review

Richard Mullen was relieved to escape injury from a fall and then weigh in safely with all the tack after being unseated from Flying Power yards after crossing the line in front at Leicester.

David Lanigan's 6-1 shot ditched his jockey after making all the running in the Real Beer Agency Handicap, pulling out more to hold Spensley by half a length with Sagredo a similar distance back in third.

After getting rid of Mullen, the winner galloped down the track, but he was soon caught and the rider hitched a lift to the far side to remove the tack so that he could weigh in.

The jockey said: "He saw the gap as we pulled up, he's gone to run out there, he slipped and unseated me, but I'm all in one piece. The jump boys have worse falls and get up straight away, so it would have looked a bit soft if I hadn't have got up from that one. I had to collect the tack and luckily it's all in one piece."

It was success all round for George Baker in the John Smith's Handicap as the horse, trainer, jockey and owner all share that name. The horse was winning for the fourth time, but it was the first time with Baker in the saddle and the 5-2 favourite had to work hard to keep Cornus at bay by a short head.

The jockey said: "It's the first time I've won on him so it's nice to do it, although it's a bit of a gimmick. I always thought I was going to hold on. He was pricking his ears with half a furlong to run. It's nice to have a winner for George."


Wyndham Wave justified strong support into 9-2 joint-favourite to open his account at the second attempt in the Newfoundpool WMC Maiden Auction Stakes. Rod Millman's youngster travelled well in the hands of the trainer's son James and went on to beat Cresta Star by a length and a quarter.

"He's a shell of a horse yet. He will make a lovely three-year-old as he's still tall and lean and he wasn't the easiest horse to break in," said Millman.

Money also spoke volumes about Mount Hollow (11-2), who overcame a slow start to win the John Liddington Group Handicap. Graham Gibbons left the blindfold on until the gates opened, which meant the six-year-old missed the kick, but he soon had him a good position and won well by a length and a quarter from Sairaam.

"We were praying for rain as he does want a bit of ease in the ground and I almost thought about not running him," said trainer Reg Hollinshead's son Andrew. "One day at Wolverhampton he went underneath the stalls, so he has to have it (the hood) left on for quite a long time."

Celebration Mile Preview

Last year's winner Poet's Voice could have his first run since the Dubai World Cup in Saturday's Betfair Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt ran out an impressive winner 12 months ago and followed up in Group One company a few weeks later, when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. He gave himself no chance of staying 10 furlongs in the Champion Stakes after pulling too hard, and repeated the trick in Dubai.


Stablemate Emerald Commander also features among the possibles, while Richard Hannon's Strong Suit will attempt to continue his renaissance in the new colours of Sheikh Fahad's Pearl Bloodstock.

Hannon can also call upon Dubawi Gold, who would be on a recovery mission after a below-par run in the Hungerford Stakes.


Aidan O'Brien's sole remaining entry is the three-year-old Zoffany with the Irish challenge possibly strengthened by Dermot Weld's admirable six-year-old Famous Name, who in 27 races has never appeared in England.

Beacon Lodge could run for Clive Cox, while Premio Loco, Set The Trend, Zafisio and Riggins are the other possibles.

York "Going" Questioned

Richard Fahey has defended York racecourse in the face of mounting criticism over the condition of the ground during the Ebor meeting last week.

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston is among those to have spoken out, saying in his blog on his website that he thought the ground was "atrocious". But Fahey, who has been leading trainer on the Knavesmire for the past few seasons, reported all his runners returned with a clean bill of health.

Fahey, who ended the meeting with one winner and four seconds, said: "Nearly all mine ran well at York and every single one of them returned perfectly sound. That certainly wasn't the case at Royal Ascot when three of mine returned with fractures. I don't know what all the fuss has been about, I honestly don't."

The handler went on: "I have no problem whatsoever in running my horses at York, it's one of the fairest tracks in the country and last week the ground was just about perfect."


Speaking on www.markjohnstonracing.com, Johnston said: "I thought the ground at York was atrocious and, from the correspondence I have received over the last few days, it would seem that I am not the only one.

"It is surely wrong, on a 'grade one' track, in August, rain or no rain, to have horses running all over the track in search of the better ground.

"It is not just York that has a problem, although it is particularly bad there, and it seems to stem from the time when BHA instructions were changed to allow clerks of courses to aim for good to firm ground rather than, under the old instructions, to water to promote grass growth but not to alter the going."

News From Donald McCain

Overturn could try his hand over fences this season after turning in yet another game front-running performance in the Summer Champion Hurdle at Perth on Saturday.

But first the seven-year-old will have a well-earned break, after a year that started with him finishing second in the rearranged Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in January and the highlight being victory in the Chester Cup on the Flat.

"He went out in his paddock on Sunday and is in tremendous form. He's an absolute star and the way he does it makes it all the more exciting. He never knows when to give up," said trainer Donald McCain.

"He'll have a little holiday now. He had a long holiday last year, but only because he was sick after York. I doubt it will be as long as that, but we'll give him a month or so now and decide what we're doing after that.

"He's going to have a school over fences. Whether that's before he goes on holiday or when he comes back, we'll see over the next week or so. That (chasing) is an option, but we'll decide nearer the time.

"We're convinced he's going to want a bit further (over fences) than two miles the way he is on the Flat getting two and a quarter, and possibly over hurdles as well. We've wanted to try that at some stage and it would give us other options."


Meanwhile, Peddlers Cross could start his career over fences at Bangor in the autumn.

McCain is delighted with the condition of last season's Champion Hurdle runner-up, who is back in training from a summer break. The six-year-old is already cantering and McCain is looking to introduce him to chasing in public at the Welsh track, where he has enjoyed plenty of success.

"He's good and cantering away. He looks great, He's grown over the summer and looks a million dollars. I've always liked to start them off at places like Bangor or somewhere like that, so it wouldn't be a surprise if that's where he ended up sometime in the autumn," said McCain.

"That was great. The perfect way to start,"

Charlie Hills enjoyed a dream start to his training career when his very first runner Blaise Chorus won at Kempton.

After his father Barry struck on his final day as a trainer with One Lucky Lady at Bath on Saturday, the handover of the reins at Faringdon Place could not have gone any better. And to make it a real family affair, Blaise Chorus was ridden by Charlie's brother Michael.

She had failed to win any of her previous five starts, but had finished second in the Cheshire Oaks and run in the Investec Oaks at Epsom. However, the drop in class for the 32 For Slots Maiden Fillies' Stakes did the trick.

Sent off the 11-4 favourite, she made all the running and, after shaking off her only real challenger Ecossaise, got home by five lengths from Sweet Lavender, who claimed second place by a neck.

"That was great. The perfect way to start," said the new trainer.

"Michael gave her a wonderful ride. She's got plenty of toe. She travelled well and has done it well. I was pleased with her."

Hills continued his fine start when Cockney Dancer (9-2) took the opening British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Windsor.

Also ridden by his brother Michael, the newcomer had to be switched towards the centre of the course from the near rail to make his challenge and showed a neat turn of foot.

Storming past the 8-13 favourite Ladyship inside the final furlong, Cockney Dancer pulled away to score by three-quarters of a length.

York Review

Yorkshire trainer Brian Ellison sprung a 25-1 surprise in the Betfred Ebor as he landed the valuable prize with second string Moyenne Corniche.

Saptapadi was expected to throw down a big challenge for the handler and though he ran well and held every chance, he could not get into the frame as the Dale Swift-ridden Moyenne Corniche flashed home to grab the glory by a length.


Tactician led for a long way in the Queen's colours and rallied gamely to take second, with Investissement looking the likely winner at one stage but having to settle for third, a further half a length away. Modun was fourth.

Doncaster Rover got the better of a thrilling battle with Majestic Myles to land the Debenhams City Of York Stakes on the Knavesmire.

There was nothing between the pair in the closing stages, with the finish mirroring the race for the jockeys' title, and on this occasion it was challenger Silvestre de Sousa who came out on top by a head over reigning champion Paul Hanagan.

"Once he starts coming like that two out, the one thing is he always does it," said trainer David Brown of the 5-1 joint-favourite.


"He's genuine and does his best, but he's had a hard ride and I told Silvestre to keep niggling at him and not give him a minute. This horse is spot on and in real good order. We swam him this morning to keep him loosened up.

"I'd be tempted if he was right to go to Newmarket next week for the race he won last year (Hopeful Stakes). It's a stiff six furlongs and he likes it there."


There was an appropriate winner of the tyregiant.com Handicap as Kevin Ryan's York Glory brought the curtain down on the 2011 Ebor meeting under an inspired Kieren Fallon.

The former champion burst through deep inside the final furlong to win going away on the 5-2 favourite from Dickie's Lad and Irish raider Oor Jock.

Fallon finished top rider over the four days by virtue of one extra third place from Dettori, the pair having had four winners each.

He said: "I thought he did it very well, I got a great run through and the splits came just in time. He impressed me. He could be an Ayr Gold Cup horse."


Frankie Dettori completed a treble when driving My Propeller home to take the Julia Graves Roses Stakes.

The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained filly (4-1) had won by a huge margin at Pontefract in June, but was then well beaten in the Cherry Hinton Stakes.

The drop to five furlongs proved to her liking as she came through on the stands rail in the final furlong to take Listed honours by a length from Last Bid, in the colours of Newcastle United footballer Joey Barton.

"Our horses have been on fire the last two weeks," said Chapple-Hyam's travelling head lad Ronan Meehan.

"The owner couldn't get here as Newcastle were playing today, but he'll be a happy man as they won as well, and the boss is buying a horse at Deauville. This filly appreciated going back to five against lesser opposition."


Risky Art benefited from a tremendous Kieren Fallon ride to come out on top in the Betfred Bonus King Nursery.

Self Centred looked poised to give Barry Hills a winner with his last York runner, but Fallon was getting a great tune out of the Sangster family-owned contender, who was stepping up markedly in trip from five furlongs to a mile.

With the jockey then making a pre-planned move to come over to the stands rail, the Mick Easterby-trained Risky Art (6-1) had enough left to hold the late charge of 7-2 favourite Crius by a neck.

Easterby said: "I told Kieren to come over to this side. I knew she'd get the mile, the Sangster family let me try her over the trip and it worked. They are great owners to train for."

Overturn Return At Perth

Overturn makes a swift return to jumping in the Scottish Hydro Summer Champion Hurdle at Perth.

The limited handicap is a new race on the calendar and Donald McCain's popular seven-year-old, a creditable seventh in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, will be giving upwards of 5lb to his nine rivals.

"It's a good race for the time of year and it just shows that if you put up the money, you'll get the good horses. He's grand at the moment. We backed off him for a week after Goodwood, but he's ready to go again," said McCain, whose charge was seventh in the Goodwood Cup last time.

"I was delighted with him at Goodwood and if I'm honest I was getting pretty excited for 100 yards or so! Richard Hughes said he didn't stop and he galloped all the way to the line. He just said it's difficult to do what we tried to do round there. He didn't get beaten far, so I was pleased. "

York Review

Crackentorp provided connections with great solace for missing out on the Betfred Ebor when winning the Racing UK On Sky Bet Mobile Stakes.

Trained in nearby Great Habton by Tim Easterby, the six-year-old gelding came out a head in front following a lengthy scrap towards the far rail with runner-up Kiama Bay and Prompter.

The 33-1 chance, ridden by Easterby's regular ally David Allan, was claiming his second course-and-distance success of the season, having struck here in June.

Easterby said: "He was balloted out of the Ebor so this race was the obvious choice. He got murdered in the first furlong at Carlisle last time and I didn't see him after that. He's tough, he battles, and he loves it here."


Caspar Netscher gave Alan McCabe his biggest training success when gaining just reward for his consistency with a hard-fought victory in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes.

Robert Winston had him settled beautifully in rear before making his move on the far side of the track, and though the 5-1 shot slightly cut across Burwaaz after taking the lead, he was far enough ahead at the time.

He galloped on strongly to win by two and a quarter lengths from Lilbourne Lad, who pipped Burwaaz for second by a head.

Winston said: "He takes a bit of getting to know, and when he veered off to the right I just gave him a couple of reminders to go forward and he did.

"He's getting better as the year goes on. When I got on him in the paddock the last day I said to Alan he had strengthened up and he's a very nice horse to be on now."

Newark-based McCabe, who has held a licence for five years, said: "That's superb. It's all credit to the team at home and to Charles Wentworth, who is one of my biggest patrons.

"We'll take him home and see how he is and he's got entries everywhere. We're even thinking about the Breeders' Cup, but that's a long way off. He's physically and mentally still improving."

Wentworth added: "He is in the Champagne Stakes (at Doncaster on September 10), so that's an option and he'll definitely get seven furlongs. This horse was bought for me as a birthday present from my wife, so it's a dream come true."


Hayley Turner rode her second Group One sprint winner when driving 20-1 shot Margot Did to a surprise success in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.


Victorious on Dream Ahead in the July Cup, Turner came home three-quarters of a length in front this time on her boss Michael Bell's sprinter, who beat Hamish McGonagall, with Prohibit a further half a length away in third.

Green Destiny is proving an enigma for punters as he made a triumphant return to the scene of his John Smith's Cup triumph to take the Sky Bet Mobile Strensall Stakes.


Kieren Fallon brought the William Haggas-trained four-year-old through the pack to lead a furlong out and though the always-prominent Tazahum pushed him all the way, the 11-4 joint-favourite had too much firepower and won by a length and a quarter.

Fallon said: "He idled a bit and pricked his ears, but he got there. He's obviously gone the right way, because the second is a lovely colt."

Explaining the reason for Green Destiny's inconsistency, Haggas said: "Maybe going this way round is the only credible reason. It was a punt at Goodwood and he had a bad draw. This trip is too short for him as he really wants a mile and a quarter.

York Preview

Biondetti arrives at York for the Strensall Stakes today via runs in Italy, America and France.

The Godolphin-owned three-year-old seeks to add this Group Three race to his top-level success at San Siro last October, after which he was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on dirt at Churchill Downs. He was given a long time off after that before finishing second at Maisons-Laffitte a month ago.

"Biondetti had his first run for a while in France and he has come out of it well. I think that will have brought him on a fair bit," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.


Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is happy with the horse, but admits it will be no easy ride.

"He is in good form at the moment but this won't be an easy race to win. I think that he will run a nice race, but he is coming up against some tough opposition." he told www.godolphin.com.

Connections of Tazahum are hoping for a bold show from the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt.


"He's a nice horse and won at Sandown where he did well to get up. He didn't like the ground at Ascot (when fifth to Pisco Sour) and it was probably too far in those conditions," said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

"We gave him a break and brought him back at Goodwood. In my opinion we gave him too much to do. He can be a bit bold so Richard's (Hills) instructions were to put him out the back. But they didn't go very fast and he was in a hopeless position."

Western Aristocrat was half a length ahead of Tazahum when third to Neebras at Goodwood. Trainer Jeremy Noseda expects the Mr Greeley colt to be better suited by conditions on the Knavesmire.

"It looks like being a race with plenty of depth but he should be suited by the extra furlong and can hopefully get competitive. He wasn't suited by Goodwood last time and York should suit him better," the Newmarket handler told www.jeremynoseda.com.


Kieren Fallon believes Hoof It is "something special" as he bids to make the step up from top drawer handicapper to Group One-winning sprinter in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.

Trained not too far away from the Knavesmire by Mick Easterby, the four-year-old has made giant strides during his relatively short career, notably striking three times at York, and adding further colour to the gelding's story is the fact that he is part-owned by golfing pro Lee Westwood and his agent Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler.

Fallon said: "He has got a great turn of foot - great speed. The only problem I've had in the last three or four races that I've won on him was trying to find something to give us a lead. I couldn't believe how much improvement that there was from York to Goodwood."


Sole Power may not defend his crown.

A shock 100-1 winner last year, trainer Eddie Lynam fears the ground could be too soft for the four-year-old sprinter. The County Meath trainer is likely to make a late call on whether to let his stable star take his chance.

"There's a big doubt about him running because of the ground," said Lynam, speaking from Thursday evening's meeting at Tipperary.

Sole Power was around an 8-1 shot to land back-to-back victories in the Group One dash on the Knavesmire.


Kingsgate Native will bid to get a largely disappointing season back on track.

Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "He'll keep appearing in these races and you never know, like all these sprinters, they seem to have their day. He's been disappointing this year but he might as well run and hopefully we can get some cover as that is what he needs.

"He was drawn one at Goodwood last time and with the extra stalls he ended up almost too wide, which was unfortunate."

Blue Is The Colour

Blue Bunting landed her third Group One triumph with a hard-fought win in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire.

The 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks heroine kept on stoutly in the hands of Frankie Dettori to hold off the persistent challenge of Vita Nova.

The 11-4 favourite, owned by Godolphin and trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, led over a furlong out to win by three-quarters of a length from Sir Henry Cecil's filly, with Wonder Of Wonders a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third.


Dettori said: "She was in season today, so her mind wasn't exactly on the job - she made it really hard work for me. She's never going to be flash - ie winning by a long margin - but she's very hard to pass. Her form all year has been red hot and she's very tough.

"It's up to Sheikh Mohammed, but she deserves to be there (in the Ladbrokes St Leger) if they want to. She's a very good filly."

Big Race Reviews

Sir Michael Stoute's Sea Moon turned in a most impressive performance in the sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes.

The 11-2 chance was settled in arrears by Richard Hughes before making stealthy headway towards the stands' rail along the straight.

Odds-on favourite Seville was bang there with a furlong to go, but Sea Moon soon left him for dead, pulling right away to score by eight lengths. Al Kazeem stayed on for second, with Seville passing the post a disappointing third.

Stoute said: "It was highly impressive. He's a horse we've always loved, but he had a few little niggles in the springtime. We were hopeful, but I didn't expect him to win like that.

"He`s a lovely big horse with a good mind, and he's progressed so well since he ran here at York in June. On that performance, he's got a great chance in the Leger, for sure."

Hughes said: " Normally when they move that good they don't have a change of gear, but this fellow moves exceptionally well and he picked up very good, too. Five furlongs out he picked up a lot and he was always going ever so easily."

Roger Charlton, trainer of runner-up Al Kazeem, said: "The winner is obviously very decent and we wouldn't want to take him on again. I'm really pleased with the horse as he hasn`t run since mid-May and we would prefer faster ground.

"We might run him in something like the Arc trial trial at Newbury, but I'm not really sure at the moment."


Last year's runner-up Twice Over lunged late to deny stablemate Midday in the Juddmonte International.

Sir Henry Cecil's dual Champion Stakes winner was ridden patiently by Ian Mongan and cruised into contention alongside Midday and odds-on favourite Await The Dawn, as the pacemaking Windsor Palace dropped away.


Await The Dawn was the first to feel the pinch, and Midday looked to be getting the better of the argument heading inside the final furlong, but Twice Over (11-2) finished off his race best to score by three-quarters of a length.

Cecil said: "The Prince has sponsored this race for years and years and never won it before. And I said to him if we didn`t win it today we`d have to wait for Frankel, hopefully, next year. They both deserved to run. If the ground had been a bit faster, Midday might have given Twice Over a closer race.


"Tom Queally was on Midday and he`s won six Group Ones on her so I wanted him to stay on her, and Ian Mongan was on Twice Over. I`ve always thought a lot of him. He's my second jockey and is very underrated.

"He`s a very good jockey and if he got better rides he`d be right in the top flight. I`m so pleased for him. He really deserved it."


Mongan, securing the biggest win of his career, said: "It's really special. I would like to thank the Prince (Khalid Abdullah, owner) and Sir Henry for putting faith in me because this is as good as it gets.

"I didn't think they went particularly quick and I think Midday and Twice Over probably had a bit more turn of foot to go by. The way it was looking I thought it might be a dead-heat, but he really stuck it out."


O'Brien said of Await The Dawn: "I don't want to take anything away from the other two, but it has been a while since he ran at Ascot and maybe I should have given him another run or a racecourse gallop.

"America (Breeders' Cup Classic) is still the long-term plan and we'll try and find something in between."