SANDOWN THURSDAY

ROGER Charlton is in a rich vein of form and his four-year-old Dubawi colt Time Test produced a splendid performance to win the Group 3 BetVictor Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday evening.

Highly progressive last term before failing to shine in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Time Test (3/1) might have run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup a few days ago and even travelled to Ireland, but the ground was deemed too soft.

Carrying a Group 2 penalty here, he was settled in last by Ryan Moore but powered his way up the straight, mastered Western Hymn 150 yards from home and then held on as the latter battled to the line. It was over four lengths back to Scottish with warm favourite Intilaaq very disappointing in sixth.

“I thought it was a good effort tonight and Ryan confirmed a mile and a quarter is his trip,” Charlton said. “The Prince Of Wales’s is what I’d be angling for but he’s going to have to be particularly good this time.”

The last point was clearly a reference to A Shin Hikari’s dazzling success in the Prix d’Ispahan at Chantilly earlier in the week.

PALLASATOR BEHAVES

Sir Mark Prescott has a very talented stayer in Pallasator but this powerful gelding has let himself down often enough in the past by becoming fractious before the start.

Perhaps he has grown up at seven because there were no problems before the Group 3 BetVictor Henry II Stakes, which he won by just over two lengths from Suegioo with Willie Mullins’ 4/7 chance Max Dynamite only third. It was not an evening to get involved in short-priced favourites.

Taken down early by Oisin Murphy, Pallasator was settled in third but moved up to challenge after Max Dynamite had headed Burmese two furlongs from home. Hard ridden, he led a furlong later and went away to account for the runner-up readily enough. He stayed this two miles particularly well and gets quite a bit further.

“Pallasator will run in the Ascot Gold Cup,” said the trainer. “That’s what they (Qatar Racing) bought him for but today’s ground was firm enough. He’d handle it as soft as you like.”

Mullins never makes excuses, though maybe Max Dynamite was a little rusty following a long absence.

“Yes, but I’m disappointed. Maybe he just blew up,” he said.

The Hannons routinely scoop up the Listed BetVictor National Stakes for juveniles and the hitherto unbeaten Mehmas was made a slightly uneasy 13/3 favourite to further enhance their record. However, the trip was five furlongs this time, which helped old rival Global Applause, who was quickly away for Moore and secured the far rail.

Allowed to start at 9/2 after being beaten by Mehmas over six last time, Global Applause was never headed and stretched clear to score by just over a length as Frankie Dettori angled out for a run and sent the favourite in pursuit.

Mehmas did not truly have the run of the race but six furlongs is his trip and he will go for the Coventry Stakes with every chance. Ed Dunlop favours the Norfolk Stakes over the minimum trip for his winner. Dunlop was completing a quick double, 9/2 favourite Inniscastle Lad having prevailed in the opening 10-furlong handicap.

On arguably the best evening card of the summer, Clive Cox and Adam Kirby took the Listed Heron Stakes over a mile with 11/2 chance Zonderland, who comfortably outpointed Richard Hannon’s Atlantic Sun.

Irish success continues

At Ayr on Monday, Adrian Keatley continued his great form when Millefiori (1/2) notched up her second win in a week at Ayr, running away with a mile handicap by 10 lengths for Joe Fanning.

She returned to Scotland on Wednesday and again ran out a comfortable winner of a nine-furlong handicap under Tony Hamilton.

Another Irish-trained winner on the card was the Pat Shanahan-trained and Thistle Bloodstock owned Born Innocent. The Dark Angel filly was a three length winner under Tadhg O’Shea.

On Thursday evening in the last race at Newcastle Matty Tynan’s Coto (2/1) added to her win at Newcastle’s opening all-weather fixture when she came through late to take a six-furlong contest under Paddy Bradley.