SANDOWN FRIDAY
SIR Michael Stoute’s Midterm ran out a hard-working winner of the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown yesterday.
Shaken up by Ryan Moore two furlongs from home after Algometer had taken over from longtime leader Dwight D, the son of Galileo seemed to be in control after hitting the front but Algometer proved a more than willing rival and battled away up the hill, going down by a length and a half in the end. It was eight lengths back to High Grounds in third.
At a time when Stoute’s horses are fit enough at an earlier stage than is often the case, this was a workmanlike performance by Khalid Abdullah’s colt, though hardly impressive.
However, this was only Midterm’s second appearance after a debut victory at Newbury as a juvenile and he can only improve.
He is reminiscent of the stable’s Workforce, who also had a very light campaign leading up to a successful tilt at Epsom.
He goes to Chester or York next.
TOORMORE RALLIES
Richard Hannon’s Toormore has sometimes seemed a few pounds short of the very highest level as a miler but he landed the Group 2 bet365 Mile in the gamest possible fashion, rallying well to outbattle Dutch Connection inside the final furlong to score by a neck with the ultra-consistent Breton Rock back in third.
Roger Varian’s rank outsider Barchan made the running at a fierce pace in a bid to help stable-companion Belardo.
However, the latter, although clearly race fit after a recent victory, never quite entered the argument as Toormore, 7/2, took over with two furlongs to travel. Soon challenged and headed by Dutch Connection, Toormore battled back and went on again, keeping on stoutly to the line. Purchased by Godolphin last year, he joined Barchan and Belardo in the familiar blue colours.
“He’s such a lovely horse and a joy to ride,’’ said winning jockey William Buick. “We went very quick but we’ve won from being in behind and then being in front. He really battled back.’’
John Gosden’s Western Hymn, winner of the Group3 bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes last year and sent off at 4/5 to repeat the performance yesterday, made much of the running but could not hold Clive Cox’s 8/1 chance My Dream Boat in the closing stages.
The winner, penalised for winning a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud in November, seemed to have plenty to do in the straight. However, with Frankie Dettori setting sail for home on the favourite, Adam Kirby steadily made ground and swept through to gain the day inside the final furlong.
It was just over a length back to Ayrad in third.
Paddy Power cut the five-year-old from 33/1 to 25/1 for the 10-furlong Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
CHANNON SUCCESS
Those following Mick Channon very closely when he books champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa had early cause for celebration when 11/1 chance Czabo, backed down from an early morning 14/1, swept through to take the opening bet365 Esher Cup over a mile.
The son of Sixties Icon, many of whose progeny seem to go to Channon, came with a powerful late run to overcome Midhmaar and Chief Whip and looked better than a handicapper in the process. Channon has won the Irish Guineas in the past and Czabo is entered for the Curragh.
John Gosden’s Southern Stars, 9/2, made a smooth winning seasonal debut under Frankie Dettori in the three-year-old fillies’ maiden later on.
Fran Berry rode his first winner of the turf season for his new yard of Ralph Beckett when the filly Rocaverde (11/1) made most of the running and held of Shall We in the second division of the fillies maiden over 10 furlongs.