Brilliant Bull on target
Thursday 12th July, 2007
Papal Bull ridden by Ryan Moore, picture by Steven Cargill
PAPAL Bull produced a flawless display to run out an emphatic winner of the Princess Of Wales’s WBX.COM Stakes at Newmarket today.
Jockey Ryan Moore got a fine tune out of the four-year-old, who bounced back to his best in the Group 2 feature for what was his first win in over a year.
The son of Montjeu simply had too much in the tank for his rivals, powering home for a two-and-a-half length triumph at odds of 11-1.
Winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: “I am thrilled that he has come back to near his best form. I was delighted to see him picking up and really starting to run as he was going by horses.”
Lanson’s Ladies’ Day also saw a spectacular performance from Winker Watson, winner of the TNT Juky Stakes.
The Norfolk Stakes hero retained his unbeaten record by coming from last to first under jockey Jimmy Fortune for a short head victory in the Group 2 for juvenile colts.
Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam didn’t write off the prospect of him getting a mile in the future and bookmakers slashed him in their respective Stan James 2000 Guineas markets. He is now as short as 7-1 for the colt’s Classic on the Rowley Mile next May.
Chapple-Hyam said: “He is a good horse - I’ve said it for a while, now people might listen! We will probably give him a bit of a break and then go for the Prix Morny (on August 19 in Deauville).
Trainer Henry Cecil recorded a popular win thanks to Tranquil Tiger, who took the Bahrain Trophy. Traffic Guard ran out an impressive winner of the Xplor Conditions race, while Spanish Bounty sprang something of a surprise in the Turf Italia EBF Novice Stakes.
The other winners today were Hearthstead Maison (Kleinwort Benson heritage handicap) and Moorhouse Lad, who took the concluding Voute Sales handicap.
Newmarket’s director of racing Michael Prosser reflected: “It was an excellent day’s racing accompanied by a great atmosphere. Now we can look forward to another outstanding afternoon of racing tomorrow on Darley July Cup day.”
By Tony Rushmer