Saturday 23 May 2015 18:43, UK
A round-up of the rest of the action from Haydock Park where Mutarakez looked like the proverbial Group horse in a handicap.
Brian Meehan's Mutarakez justified strong support to win the Betfred Mobile Silver Bowl impressively at Haydock.
Sent off the 2-1 favourite against some unexposed three-year-olds, Paul Hanagan had to bide his time from stall 10.
Eve Johnson Houghton's Goring made a bold bid and was fending off Carry On Deryck but he had no answer to the Fast Company colt, who quickened in the style of a Group horse in a handicap to win by three-quarters of a length.
Meehan said: "I'm very pleased, he's a lovely horse. He had to overcome a bad draw and looking at that you'd say he was a stakes horse.
"The Britannia is the obvious target, but the weights are out late for that so we'll see what the handicapper does.
"Paul said he'd get further so the other option would be the 10-furlong Group Three (Tercentenary Stakes).
"He's won very well in the end and we'll have a talk and see what we think is best."
Fabricate sparked Royal Ascot dreams for the Queen when winning the Betfred Supports Jack Berry Handicap in some style.
The Makfi colt, out of an Oaks runner-up in Flight Of Fancy, pulled a length and three-quarters clear of another twice-raced youngster, Hernandoshideaway, with those two miles clear of some decent yardsticks.
Trainer Michael Bell will be scouring the programme book no doubt, but given Brown Panther took this race four years ago before winning the King George V Stakes at Ascot and the fact he is owned by Her Majesty suggests a trip to Berkshire will be high on the agenda - as does his entry in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes.
Adam Kirby did the steering and he was suitably impressed by the 100-30 winner.
"He's still very much a baby, really, but he's a nice horse," said Kirby.
"He's got a lovely attitude and switches off nicely and is laid-back. Whether he'd be ready for Ascot isn't up to me."
Brian Ellison is preparing a big assault on the Northumberland Plate and after saddling Seamour and Totalize to finish first and second in the Betfred Membership "Play Your Way" Handicap he can go to Newcastle with confidence.
Ben Curtis always had Seamour handy and the 15-2 shot used the rail to good effect to hold off his stablemate by a length and a quarter.
Lightly raced, Ellison feels the winner will be better than a handicapper in time.
"Both of those two will go for the Plate, as will Montefeltro (ninth) and one or two others," said north-east native Ellison.
"He's a good horse, this - Ben said he got there miles too soon, but he had no choice really.
"Totalize ran well, too, after so long off. Seamour was two from two over hurdles and at York last time the race wasn't run to suit.
"He won that off 85 so I hope he goes up enough to get in."
Blhadawa caused a 28-1 surprise in the Listed Betfred TV EBF Stallion Stakes for fillies' only.
With upwards of a stone to find on the majority of her rivals according to the official ratings, James Tate's four-year-old looked up against it.
All her best form had been on the all-weather but she travelled sweetly and really quickened up when asked by Luke Morris, beating the fast-finishing Interception by three-quarters of a length.
Explosive Lady, the only-three-year-old in the field, was third but the Irish-trained favourite Gathering Power never threatened at any stage.
"I think we were running to try and nick a bit of black type really so this is a nice bonus," said Morris.
"She did it well in the end, she travelled well and quickened up when I asked her and showed a good turn of foot. I'd imagine we'll look for a fillies' Group Three for her next."
Sky Bet cut Blhadawa to 25/1 from 40s for the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
David O'Meara, out of luck with G Force in the Temple Stakes, had better luck with Eccleston (10-1) in the sprint handicap.
He said: "I didn't put him in the Wokingham, would you believe, the Great St Wilfrid and then Ayr might come into it."
Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's colours were also carried to victory by Martin Harley in the finale by Amazour (9-4 favourite).