Thursday 9th July
DOCTOR Fremantle (pictured above) cemented his reputation as one of the leading middle- distance horses when coming from last to first to land the Princess of Wales’s Blue Square Stakes.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year old was given a perfectly timed ride by Ryan Moore who passed the entire field to lead inside the final furlong, landing the spoils by half a length.
It was the Newmarket handler’s seventh win in the Group 2 and a third win at Group level for the Sadler’s Wells colt.
Stoute said: “I don’t know what happened in the Hardwicke - we thought he was one of our best chances of the meeting. It was a funny race and he never got into it.”
A return to Group 1 company now looks likely with the King George at Ascot and the Juddmonte International at York coming under consideration.
Stoute added: “He’s not doing too badly; he’s won two out of three this year, including a Group Two and now a Group Three.”
Arcano earned quotes of 16-1 from the sponsors for the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas when taking the TNT July Stakes in gutsy fashion.
Martin Dwyer, who was on board the 7-4 favourite, rode him with confidence having settled him at the rear of the field.
At the half way stage he began to weave his way through the runners and was still full of running entering the final furlong.
He grabbed the lead just inside the furlong marker and stayed on well to run out the winners by three-quarters of a length.
A thrilled Meehan said: “I’m delighted with him, he’s a smart horse. I don’t know what’s next for him but the Prix Morny at Deauville springs to mind.”
Kite Wood landed The Bahrain Trophy for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey Frankie Dettori.
The son of Galileo was last seen finishing towards the rear in the Epsom Derby and looked as if the step up in trip to 1m5f suited him well.
He made all today and stayed on well up the hill to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Connections have indicated that the St Leger at Doncaster is the target but he could take in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York along the way.
Bin Suroor said of his 2-1 favourite: “He is a good-looking horse but before his last two races he had been sweating and that was a bad sign. Today he was dry and happy.”
Dettori added: “Kite Wood is developing into a nice St Leger horse. This was his first test of stamina and he took it really well.”
Connections completed a double on the card when Spring of Fame took the Portland Place Properties Conditions Stakes later in the afternoon.
It was a close-knit affair on paper and as they entered the closing stages the four principals all came there with a chance.
But it was Dettori on board 9-2 chance Spring of Fame who came out strongest, winning by three-quarters of a length.
The Italian rider completed a hat-trick on the day when driving out Canadian Danehill in the The Racing UK Sky 432 Handicap.
Firebet came with a late run up the stands rail to take the Blue Square handicap in the hands of Paul Hanagan.
The son of Dubai Destination was completing a three-timer this afternoon and still looks to be a horse to stay on the right side of.
Winning trainer Richard Fahey said: “I enjoyed it. We thought the step up in trip would suit him and he’s starting to relax now.
“We’ve got an entry in the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam at Maison-Laffitte later this month so I was hoping he’d win today so we could think about it.”
Awzaan gave jockey Richard Hills his first winner of the meeting following a frustrating run of seconds when winning the EBF Conditions Stakes.
The Mark Johnston-trained son of Alhaarth was settled in midfield before skipping clear of his rivals inside the final furlong to win at odds of 9-1.
Johnston said: “We’ll think about going for seven furlongs now and the race that springs to my head is the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.”
The final day of the Champagne Lanson July Festival gets underway at1:30.
By Jackie Jarvis