14 May
ROYAL Ascot is next on the agenda for Codemaster who landed today's feature Stobart Group King Charles II Stakes in fine style.
The Henry Candy-trained colt runs in the colours of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Pearl Bloodstock and overcame greeness to land this Listed prize.
Last seen finishing second in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy, the son of Choisir was trying seven furlongs for the first time but ran out a ready winner under Dane O'Neill.
Codemaster took the lead off the favourite I Love Me approaching the furlong marker and stayed on well to win by two lengths.
In-form trainer Candy said: "He's a lovely horse who is as tough as boots. We only just got away with the ground and that is why he changed his legs so much.
"He has a right to go to Royal Ascot for the Jersey. It's a huge step up in class but he's going in the right direction."
Yorgunnabelucky returned to winning ways when taking the Eddie Stobart Stakes for trainer Mark Johnston and jockey Joe Fanning.
The son of Giant's Causeway had been hurdling without much success over the winter and looked to relish a return to the Flat.
Fanning was always handy on the 33/1 chance and he battled on gamely to beat HM The Queen's Tactician by half a length.
Johnston said: "He is a tough horse who went hurdling but it didn't work out. We always thought a bit of him and Frankie (Dettori) said after he had ridden him over a mile and a half last time that the jumping had blunted his speed and he needed further. So we stepped him up and it has worked perfectly."
The Eddie Stobart Chilled handicap went to the Henry Cecil-trained Glencadam Gold in the hands of Ian Mongan.
The 2/1 chance travelled smoothly throughout and ran out a convincing winner from the pacesetter Hawaafez.
Mike Marshall, assistant to Cecil, said: "I think he probably sulked with the tongue-time last time at Sandown and seemed a different horse today.
"He was happy and this will have done his confidence the world of good. It was almost like a piece of work today."
Another colt that could be Royal Ascot bound is B Fifty Two who took the elitedreambedding.com Novice Stakes for trainer John Hills and jockey Seb Sanders.
The son of Dark Angel, a winner at Bath on his last start, outgunned the odds-on favourite Lilbourne Lad to win by a head.
A delighted Hills said: "He is a lovely horse who is such a laidback individual and only does enough. He has the speed for five (furlongs) but I think he is better at six. I'll aim him at Ascot, take a look at the races and decide which one to go for nearer the time."
Neebras was the class horse in the Southend Airport Perfect Flying Conditions Stakes and he duly obliged in good style under Frankie Dettori.
Dettori never had to get too busy on the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained colt and he stretched clear to score by seven lenghts.
Diana Cooper, representing Godolphin, said: "That was a nice, easy confidence boost for the horse. He has plenty of ability and we shall probably look to step him up (in class) now."
There was a tremendous finish to the Stobart Biomass handicap with Benandonner just getting the better of Arabain Spirit and Camerooney by a head and a nose.
The Mike Murphy-trained gelding didn't look like the likely winner at 'The Bushes' but dug deep up the hill to land the spoils under last season's champion apprentice Martin Lane.
Lane said: "He's so tough and loves a battle. It's great to ride a winner here, it's the place to ride winners."
The last race of the three-day meeting was the Eddie Spotters handicap which was won by Galatian (8/1) for trainer Rod Millman and jockey James Millman.
Racing resumes on the Rowley Mile on Friday 27 May.
