THE Richard Hannon-trained Motakhayyel defied top-weight of 9st 10lb to win the bet365 Bunbury Cup for the second year in succession.

The five-year-old was the first horse since Mine in 2005 and 2006 to win the seven-furlong heritage handicap in consecutive years.

Returned at 11/2, the Shadwell-owned Heeraat gelding raced prominently under Frankie Dettori and pulled away from his 17 rivals in the final furlong for a very comfortable three-and-a-half-length success over Fundamental, with Lord Rapscallion another length and a quarter away in third.

Richard Hannon was saddling his fourth winner at the July Festival and recorded a 47.75/1 double on the day, following the victory of the two-year-old Lawman filly Ardbraccan in the opening race.

He said of the winner: “He’s a gentleman of a horse and has been for years. He’s such a pleasure to have around and whoever rides him he does his thing.

“But he’s struggled and is sort of between a rock and a hard place with his handicap mark and running in listed races.”

Dettori added: “It took me by surprise as I still had a double handful two out but in handicaps he’s very good. I got a nice run into the race from Hollie (Doyle, Lord Rapscallion) and I never saw a horse after that.”

The Godolphin team had a good July meeting with their two-year-olds and achieved a double in back-to-back contests on Saturday when Native Trail made it two wins from as many starts in the Group 2 bet365 Superlative Stakes over seven furlongs.

Group 1 target

Winning trainer Charlie Appleby is now pondering a Group 1 target for the colt, with the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September looking the most likely option.

A son of 2003 Darley July Cup hero Oasis Dream, 11/4 chance Native Trail took a while to find his stride but changed gears inside the final furlongs as he got up to take the contest by a short head from Masekela.

Appleby said: “He was strong at the line and I think we saw that at Sandown really. He’s obviously a nice horse to ride through a race because he goes through his gears smoothly and we saw that on his first start and I feel we’ve seen that again today. I feel when he steps up in trip in time we will see a good bit of improvement again.

“I like to go to Ireland and have a go over there (in the National Stakes at the Curragh) and the ground will suit him.

“I think potentially onto something like the Racing Post Trophy or the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère after that.”

Winning jockey William Buick added: “I was very impressed. He’s a very raw horse but when he had something to race against he kept finding more. He’s the most gorgeous looking horse and very talented too.”

Royal Fleet, a son of Dubawi made it three wins from three in the bet365 Mile Handicap, justifying odds-on favouritism to kick of the double for the Godolphin team.