HAMPTON COURT STAKES

(GROUP 3)

THE Hampton Court Stakes looked a competitive affair but it is now perfectly obvious that many of Aidan O’Brien’s horses are coming on considerably with the sun on their backs and his Hunting Horn won with remarkable ease.

Godolphin’s Nordic Lights led for much of the way with stable-companion Key Victory close up but it was Robert Havlin on John Gosden’s Crossed Baton who moved up to take over with two furlongs to travel. His moment was short-lived, however, as Moore loomed up on the outside, sent Hunting Horn into the lead and crossed the line over four lengths to the good.

Crossed Baton held second from Zaaki, who kept on steadily in third.

The winner was bringing more than a touch of class to a Group 3 event, having finished a good sixth to Study Of Man in the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly after his third in the Chester Vase. He looked much too good for this opposition and, admittedly with the benefit of hindsight, 5/1 was a very fair price.

With this victory Moore brought up the half-century at Royal Ascot.

“He’s progressed with every start this year and the race today went nice and smoothly for him,” he said. “He got there and had a little look round and it wasn’t until I got after him in the last furlong that he started stretching.”

Co-owner Derrick Smith was especially delighted with the outcome.

“This is actually a double-whammy because he’s a son of our Derby winner Camelot, which makes the result even more pleasing,” he said.