Kitty’s Light fantastic for Williams in Eider Chase

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Kitty’s Light secured the big-race victory he has long promised with a determined display in the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle.

The Christian Williams-trained seven-year-old was unfortunate not to land the 2021 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown after controversial finish and he has since been placed in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, the Coral Trophy at Kempton, the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and the bet365 Gold Cup for a second time.

Having fallen down the weights following a disappointing run of form so far this season, Kitty’s Light was the 7-4 favourite to bounce back at Gosforth Park – but his supporters were made to sweat before eventually collecting their winnings.

Jockey Jack Tudor was hard at work in the saddle at various stages of the four-one-mile-furlong contest, while Kitty’s Light was far from convincing at a number of fences on the way round.

But to his credit, the Nathaniel gelding managed to keep himself in contention and his huge reserves of stamina kicked in from the home turn and he kept on dourly from the final fence to get up and beat The Galloping Bear by two and a half lengths.

Williams, claiming back-to-back Eider wins following the comfortable success of Win My Wings 12 months ago, said: “I’m delighted. It was a great ride for good owners. The ground was a bit messy and he made hard work of it, but we’ve got plenty of faith in him and you can never write him off.

“He does his best work in the latter stages of a race. He’s got a Flat pedigree and is not bred to be jumping fences and running over four miles!

“He’s a brilliant little horse. All the stats said he couldn’t win with his age and this and that, but he’s a freak so I didn’t take much notice.

“We know how hard it is to win that type of race. We won it with Win My Wings last year, who probably had 20-odd pounds in hand. We thought we had Kitty’s Light mapped out for it, but you don’t just go up there and win that type of race, so I’m proud of the horse and Jack everyone who travelled up there.”

Christian Williams was thrilled with the victory of Kitty's Light at Newcastle
Christian Williams was thrilled with the victory of Kitty’s Light at Newcastle (Simon Marper/PA)

Kitty’s Light was cut to 5-1 from 10-1 for the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on March 18, but appears unlikely to take his chance.

“I think we’ve got two options now, the Scottish National and the bet365 Gold Cup. We’ll have a sit down and speak to the owners and see which race will suit him,” Williams added.

“He ran in both races last year, but this year they’re only a week apart so I think we will target one or the other.

“We left him in the Midlands National at the first stage as we were worried about the ground at Newcastle, but I would have thought he’ll be taken out of that now.”

Kemboy shows flame still burns brightly at Fairyhouse

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Multiple Grade One winner Kemboy rolled back the years with a heartwarming victory in the tote Fantasy Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was the highest-rated chaser in training after winning the Savills Chase, the Aintree Bowl and the Punchestown Gold Cup under a retiring Ruby Walsh a few seasons ago.

He has found victories harder to come by since, with his most recent achieved in the 2021 Irish Gold Cup, but made the most of having his sights lowered in this Grade Three contest.

Kemboy proved he retains plenty of ability by finishing second in both the Down Royal Champion Chase and the Savills Chase earlier this season and had far less on his plate than when sixth behind esteemed stablemate Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup three weeks ago.

Allowed to dominate in front in the hands of Paul Townend, the 11-year-old dug deep once challenged and had just enough in the tank to see off Vanillier, who ran a fine trial for the Grand National, by a half a length.

“That was good, I thought a drop in grade at this stage of his career was probably no harm,” said Mullins of the 15-8 favourite.

“He was careful at some of his jumps and then got some really good jumps. He jumped well when it mattered over the last.

“The dry conditions were a huge help to him. I might try to pick out another race like that. The Imperial Call Chase at Cork (April 9) might be a possible.

“The Aintree Bowl is a possibility, but you are running up against Grade One horses there and we might be as well off keeping below the radar. That’s his first win for two years and I’d prefer to keep him in a lower grade at his age and be competitive.

“Then we could try to finish up at Punchestown where he had a great day with Ruby Walsh, if he could roll back the years maybe he could do it again.”

Zenta returns to the Fairyhouse winner's enclosure
Zenta returns to the Fairyhouse winner’s enclosure (Gary Carson/PA)

A couple of significant jumping errors were not enough to prevent Zenta from making a successful Irish debut for Mullins in the Grade Three Norman Colfer Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle.

The Auteuil winner was the 4-9 favourite to strike Grade Three gold on her first start for owner JP McManus and she travelled strongly in the slipstream of the front-running Hypotenus for much of the extended two-mile contest.

She was far from fluent at the second-last and the last flight of hurdles, but was still good enough to score by three lengths. Betfair left her odds for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham unchanged at 20-1.

Mullins said: “She jumped super and then things just fell apart but I think she will improve. She’s essentially a good jumper and it was just maybe being in front.

“She’s a nice mare and I think she’s going to improve. She’ll head for the Triumph Hurdle, I’d imagine.

“If she just keeps her jumping together she’s going to win lots of prizes.”

“She’s one we have been looking forward to. We sort of had to rush her preparation to get her ready for this but we felt she needed it if she was going to go across the water.

“She passed the test, she didn’t pass it with flying colours but she passed it.”

Rubaud makes amends for Betfair Hurdle reverse

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Rubaud put a disappointing effort in the Betfair Hurdle well behind him with a gritty success in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton.

The Paul Nicholls-trained youngster was strongly fancied for the richest handicap hurdle of the season at Newbury a fortnight ago but gave himself no chance by racing far too freely.

Front-running tactics were employed this time by Harry Cobden and fitted with a hood he was much more settled.

Cobden was able to dictate matters at his own pace and when he kicked coming out of the home straight, he looked to have an unassailable advantage.

The favourite Hansard soon dropped away, as did Ukantango, but the mare Mullenbeg quickened up to almost join the leader.

She could not quite reel him in, though, and went down by a length and a quarter.

Rubaud leads Mullenbeg over the last
Rubaud leads Mullenbeg over the last (Nigel French/PA)

“We probably should have put a hood on him at Newbury where he got lit up and was far too keen,” said Nicholls.

“He’s a proper horse who jumps nicely and will now go to Aintree for the Grade One over two miles.

“He’s in the Supreme but there’s no point going there, he will have a much better chance of being able to dictate at Aintree.

“He goes a good gallop, he’s a good horse but just needs to learn how to relax.

“We had his wind sorted out and he’s been one that’s needed time, a bit like Solo who we saw at his best in the Pendil.”

Silver Sonic soars to Saudi triumph, but no joy for Subjectivist

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There was to be no fairytale comeback for 2021 Ascot Gold Cup winner Subjectivist who finished well down the field behind Silver Sonic in the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh.

Now trained by Charlie Johnston, Subjectivist was undoubtedly the leading stayer in Europe when adding Ascot’s showpiece race to his win in Dubai a few months prior.

However, he picked up a tendon injury and was off the track for over 600 days before this return on the Saudi Cup undercard.

Joe Fanning – himself only recently back from a long-term injury – attempted to dictate but he could never get away from the field and soon after turning into the straight he was beaten.

Silver Sonic, trained in Japan by Yasutoshi Ikee and ridden by Australian Damian Lane, burst clear and while Ian Williams’ Enemy briefly threatened, he was no match for the grey close home.

Ebor winner Trawlerman, trained by John and Thady Gosden, also failed to land a blow.

“He’s a good horse and good stayer and the race unfolded well for him,” said Lane.

“I was obviously very happy to follow Subjectivist. Trawlerman on my outside was just giving me a little bit of grief – he was getting in on me a little bit and I just knew I needed some luck at some stage. When the run presented itself, he was too strong.

“I think the Tenno Sho in Japan is next on the cards. I’m back to Australia for a few weeks then off to the Dubai Carnival, hopefully.”

Asked if he would be coming to Britain at any stage, he quipped: “For the right offer, for sure!”

Richard Kingscote, who rode Enemy, said: “With the track riding as it is, I wanted to get a bit handier than in Dubai. To be fair he did everything really well. He got a good, smooth run round the bend to get out and challenge, but the winner picked up extremely well.”

Johnston said: “He had to light him up from that draw a bit and he would have been keen, regardless. That was made worse by what he had to do early.

“We will see if he comes out of it in one piece, but he will probably go to the Sagaro or the Henry II, just lower our sights closer to home. I would say he won’t go to Dubai now.

“We knew what we are asking him to do was a big, big ask, but at the same time, where do you take the horse that won the Ascot Gold Cup last time out?”

Our Power adds Coral Trophy to big Ascot success

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Our Power wore down Flegmatik to win the £150,000 Coral Trophy at Kempton for Sam Thomas and Sam Twiston-Davies.

In a race run at a stiff tempo set by Annsam, Twiston-Davies was happy to bide his time on the eight-year-old winner.

Third in the race 12 months ago, he was racing off a mark 5lb higher having won his only other start this season at Ascot.

He looked to face a stiff task turning into the straight, as Harry Skelton was sat motionless on Flegmatik, chasing his third win at the track.

When asked to go and win his race, however, he could never completely put the race to bed and Our Power (11-2) was always close enough if good enough.

Twiston-Davies got a big leap out of his mount at the last and he landed with momentum, which enabled him to win by a neck.

Sam Twiston-Davies returns on Our Power
Sam Twiston-Davies returns on Our Power (Neil Morrice/PA)

Top-weight Frodon ran another thoroughly creditable race back in third.

It was another feature handicap chase for Thomas who won the Becher Chase with Al Dancer and the Classic Chase at Warwick with Iwilldoit.

The winner is now 10-1 from 16s with Betfair for the Ultima at Cheltenham.

“I’m so pleased for Dai (Walters), James and Jean Potter (owners) who are unswerving supporters of the game,” said Twiston-Davies

“He was fantastic early in the season when he won at Ascot.

“This was only his second run of the season and it’s a fair training performance to win a £100,000 handicap and then this.

Our Power and Sam Thomas after the Coral Trophy
Our Power and Sam Thomas after the Coral Trophy (Nigel French/PA)

“I was only ever three deep at worst and he’s such an economical jumper. I thought halfway down the back he would keep getting there and in the straight he was very good coming between horses. He’s not the biggest, but he has scope and can go in and out.

“He’s the right type for the National and I feel now would be the right time. But he’s on 63 (in list of runners) so would need a few to come out.

“He’s an accurate jumper and can also be quite bold. I think he’s got what it takes for the National and it would be great for Sam who is a good friend and a very good trainer.”

Thomas – who along with Walters was involved in a helicopter crash last year – said: “The horses have been wrong since November time. Credit to the team and the owners for being very patient as it has been a tough few months. It is good to be back on the scoresheet and this is a nice race to win.

“I’ve got no real faith in the runners at the moment just with how the form of the yard is. However, this lad stays forever. I was a bit worried down the back straight but when I saw him turning in, I was quietly confident.

“Although it was a sharp three miles we know he stays well and I was hopeful he would get there in the end, but a lot had to be taken on trust with how the horses have been performing.

“He would have run in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury but he had a little setback and we had no other option but to train him for this, which is a fantastic race itself.”

He added: “I’d say he would be doubtful to get in at Aintree so it will be Cheltenham for the Ultima, then he will either go for the Scottish National or the bet365 Gold Cup.”

Mostahdaf powers to Neom Turf Cup victory

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John and Thady Gosden’s Mostahdaf turned the Neom Turf Cup into a procession in Riyadh.

The race was supposed to see George Boughey’s Royal Ascot winner Missed The Cut announce himself on the world stage as part of the Saudi Cup undercard, but for the second time on a trip away from home he fluffed his lines.

Slowly away under Oisin Murphy, he had to circle the field to get a handy position but by the home turn he had little left to give, fading into fourth.

Mostahdaf, on the other hand, was always in the perfect spot under Jim Crowley.

Last seen finishing stone last in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on soft ground, he was much more at home on a quicker surface and fairly bolted up, with Dubai Future seven lengths back in second.

Thady Gosden said: “He was obviously drawn down there on the inside and had a lovely draw. Jim broke well and gave him the perfect ride round as well.

“The pace was slow and we had a really nice spot on the outside. It was bit messy in behind us and we were luckily out of trouble and he sent him at the perfect time and he’s picked up well in the straight.

“He didn’t really enjoy swimming in the Arc – it was a much faster surface here today and he really enjoys that. He has a low action and enjoyed flicking off the top of it.

“We put this plan together after last year, we thought he was the sort of horse who would be suited to races like this. There is a huge attraction to come to the Middle East now and we thought this would suit him well for the start of the year.

“His last race was obviously the Arc, but prior to that was in the September Stakes against useful horses and he quickened up quite well that day on a sounder surface. He’s a versatile horse who is pretty comfortable in terms of trip. We’ll talk to the owners and see if we take him to Dubai next month.”

Of Missed The Cut’s run, Boughey said: “Oisin had a split-second decision to make whether to go forward or back and through no fault of anyone’s, he’s probably ended up having to go further than the others.

“But that’s racing. He’s probably run fractionally below his best form, but he’ll be back. There are a lot of options for him, we’ll just see how he is tomorrow.”

Murphy said: “He had a wide trip – jockey error. It’s a shame, he tried.”

Bill Mott’s Casa Creed was just touched off in the 1351 Turf Sprint by the Japanese-trained Songline 12 months ago and he had to settle for second behind another Far East runner this time in Bathrat Leon.

Fourth to Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes, Bathrat Leon won the Godolphin Mile last year and over this seven-furlong trip he was able to be ridden very aggressively.

Yoshito Yahagi is no stranger to winners on the global stage, and Bathrat Leon clung on desperately for success.

Richard Hannon’s Happy Romance finished just out of the places, in front of stablemate Lusail.

Yahagi said: “The tactics were to be in front. He was given a very good ride, I think. The course was perfect for him. Ryusei Sakai, my stable jockey, he is very up and coming at the moment. It is a big win for him.

“He travelled well and it was a very good plan. He stays that trip well. We will go to Dubai now.”

There was a local winner of the Saudi Derby when Commissioner King narrowly got the better of Frankie Dettoti on Bob Baffert’s Havnameltdown.

Winning jockey Luis Morales said: “He gave me everything. The way he had been working over the last few days and weeks, we knew we had a good chance. He just kept improving.

“I got a good trip and at one stage I thought I was going to win, then Frankie’s horse kept coming back.

“But we got there and it is a great feeling to win for all the local fans. He’s a local horse and it is great to do it.”

Asked how special it was to beat Frankie Dettori in a finish, he added with a smile: “After the finish line, I knew we’d won. But you know Frankie. When riding against him, he’s sometimes a pain! But he is a legend.”

Dettori was philosophical and said: “I spoke to Bob and he said try to nurse his speed. I tried to save as much as I could. We got into a duel, but unfortunately in the last 50 yards, he had enough.”

Solo effort one to savour for Nicholls at Kempton

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Solo produced an exhibition round of jumping from the front to provide trainer Paul Nicholls with a yet another victory in the Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

The Ditcheat handler had saddled a dozen previous winners of the Grade Two contest, with his last three – Cyrname (2018), Tamaroc Du Mathan (2021) and Pic D’Orhy (2022) – all carrying the Solo silks of owner Johnny de la Hey.

Solo had undergone wind surgery since finishing second in a novice handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day and it appears to have done the trick judged on this impressive display.

The 11-4 shot was bounced out in front from flag-fall by Harry Cobden and some slick jumping kept the pressure on his chasing rivals.

Datsalrightgino and 15-8 favourite Boothill attempted to close the gap from the home turn, but Solo was not for catching with another bold leap at the final fence sealing his two-length success.

Nicholls said: “We had a few issues with his breathing and had to cauterise his palate. He had three weeks off and I thought he might be two weeks off his best.

“If we can keep his wind right there’s a lot to look forward to. There’s a race at Sandown the Saturday before the Festival and another valuable handicap here the day after.

“Harry is brilliant when he dictates from the front and he was just that today.”

Lord North proves a class apart in Winter Derby

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Lord North set himself up for a Dubai Turf hat-trick bid after outclassing his rivals in the BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield.

Winner of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot three years ago, John and Thady Gosden’s charge has since claimed back-to-back Group One victories on World Cup night at Meydan.

The seven-year-old found Alenquer too strong in last year’s Winter Derby, but went on to dead-heat with Japan’s Panthalassa when defending his crown in Dubai and was back at Lingfield for his first appearance since being beaten just a length into fourth place in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July.

Despite the lengthy absence, Lord North was the 8-11 favourite to make a successful comeback and could be called the winner a long way from home.

As his front-running stablemate Harrovian weakened, it was left for Lord North to reel in Tyrrhenian Sea in the straight and he did so with ease before pulling three and a quarter lengths clear in the hands of Robert Havlin.

“His work’s been a lot brighter and I think that was a better performance, even if the race didn’t have the depth of last year,” the winning rider told Sky Sports Racing.

“He was a bit laboured through the last furlong and a half last year, but today I was always comfortable he was going to pick up.

“The track doesn’t really suit him or play to his strengths. He’s better on galloping tracks coming off a strong pace, but his class shone through and he was showing us that (at home) – it’s like he’s back to being a four or five-year-old.

“Hopefully we can get back on song and win it (Dubai Turf) outright this year.”

Thady Gosden was delighted with Lord North's performance
Thady Gosden was delighted with Lord North’s performance (Mike Egerton/PA)

Joint-trainer Thady Gosden was in Riyadh to see Mostahdaf register an impressive victory on the Saudi Cup undercard and was thrilled to see Lord North also strike gold.

He said: “It’s a nice double! As you saw, he was midway in the field and he came round the bend and picked up really well.

“He has had a long time off the track, so was obviously a bit rusty, but he was given a great ride by Rab under hands and heels. He never panicked and showed that good turn of foot that we know he has.

“He has won the Dubai Turf twice and hopefully he can use this as a springboard to that, even though there is a month to go. As long as he comes out of the race well, we have a smooth run into that.”

Kimngrace (12-1) benefited from a cool ride from George Rooke to secure Listed honours in the BetUK Hever Sprint Stakes.

Making her first appearance since finishing sixth on the turf at Doncaster in the autumn, the Richard Hughes-trained filly was well back in the field rounding the final bend but flew home on the outside of runners to deny 100-30 favourite Tone The Barone by half a length.

Hughes said: “I have a race in mind for her at Deauville in April over five and a half furlongs and I needed to get a run into her if we’re going over there on soft ground.

“I could have run her in a handicap or a Listed race and I said we might as well have two bites of the cherry to try and get black type. To go and win it was brilliant.

“I said to George to hang on to the their tails as she’s not quite quick enough for five furlongs round here. He did exactly as I told him and he was a very brave, which is brilliant as he works hard.”

Nusret boosts the claims of Irish-trained juveniles ahead of Cheltenham

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Nusret ran out a determined winner of the Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton – advertising the claims of a couple of fellow Irish-trained contenders for the Triumph Hurdle in the process.

Well beaten the last twice by Lossiemouth and Blood Destiny, he was providing trainer Joseph O’Brien with a third Grade Two four-year-old hurdle prize in Britain this season after the successes of Comfort Zone at Chepstow and Cheltenham.

The race changed in complexion when the front-running Sarsons Risk came down at the last flight in the back straight when still going well.

Several runners were hampered, including the eventual winner, but it left Perseus Way in front and Jamie Moore kicked a couple of lengths clear.

Rare Middleton briefly flattered, but Daryl Jacob was biding his time on Nusret and a mistake at the last by Perseus Way enabled the 7-2 chance to come home a length and a quarter clear.

Scriptwriter, who went into the race as one of Britain’s leading Triumph Hurdle aspirants, faded tamely after a mistake.

The winner was cut to 5-1 from 8s for the Boodles Fred Winter at Cheltenham.

Jacob said: “He’s a lovely horse. His Punchestown win was very good while the ground at Leopardstown was a bit soft for him.

“His preferred angle is going right-handed but we’re very very happy to have him.

“I managed to side-step the faller and actually didn’t lose that much ground.

“After that it was pretty straightforward, let’s hope he will go to Cheltenham where it would be the Boodles.”

Nusret and Daryl Jacob
Nusret and Daryl Jacob (PA Wire)

O’Brien said: “I thought it was a great ride from Daryl and it was a very pleasing performance.

“He appeared to enjoy going on a bit nicer ground. It was a nice race to go for. Anthony Bromley (racing manager to Simon Munir and Isaac Souede) thought it would be a good spot for him and I have to give him credit for suggesting the idea.

“We were hopeful he would run like that as that is why we went there. We had a form line through Scriptwriter (who was beaten by Comfort Zone at Cheltenham) and we thought he was the one to beat, but we thought our horse would at least be competitive with him.

“Daryl thinks he is better going right-handed but there aren’t many options right-handed before Punchestown. He will have the option of going to Cheltenham and there will be options at Aintree as well.

“We will see how he comes out of it and sit down with Daryl, Anthony, Simon and Isaac and work out where to go. I suppose the Boodles would be the obvious race but we will see how he comes out of it and what the guys want to do.”

Mawj makes waves with impressive Meydan victory

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Mawj’s successful early season continued when she sauntered home in the Jumeirah Fillies Guineas Stakes Presented by Defender at Meydan.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained three-year-old showed great promise as a juvenile last season, winning the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and placing in the Albany, the Lowther and the Cheveley Park.

This year her campaign began at Meydan in late January in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic, a seven-furlong affair she won by a short head from Charlie Appleby’s Dream Of Love.

Returning to the same track this time for a first try at a mile, she was the joint evens favourite alongside the Appleby-trained Fairy Cross and made all of the running under Danny Tudhope, hardly seeing a rival when striding to an unchallenged eight-and-a-half-length success.

“As we know, she’s plenty of speed at six furlongs and seven furlongs we’ve tried before. Tonight she led all the way, she’s a nice filly and she’s improved a lot,” said Bin Suroor.

“This was the plan for her, then the English Guineas or maybe the French Guineas, but the boss (Sheikh Mohammed) will decide.

“Also there is one race on World Cup night, the UAE Derby, but it’s more likely that we’ll take her back to England.

“We are in no rush, we have plenty of time. We will see how she comes back from the race, talk to the boss and make a decision.”

Mawj was trimmed to 16-1 from 25-1 for 1000 Guineas with Coral, and Bin Suroor is hopeful more improvement will come as she develops.

He said: “When she was a two-year-old she was tiny and skinny, we didn’t think she was a lot, but every time she worked in the mornings we could see she had some class.

“When she ran I liked her and in between races when we gave her a break, you could see in her condition that she changed and also grew.

“She grew a little bit when she arrived in Dubai and so far she’s looked like a nice filly for the future. We’ll see, but so far we are happy with her.”

The trainer is readying his horses for Super Saturday at Meydan on Saturday week, with Real World – whose only defeats on turf have been to Baaeed – headed for the Jebel Hatta en route to the Dubai Turf on World Cup night.

“Real World is doing good, and when I say good I mean improving,” Bin Suroor said.

“He’s back now and when he’ll run he’ll run at 80-85 per cent, that race will prepare him for the Dubai Turf on World Cup night.

Real World and Marco Ghiani winning in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot
Real World and Marco Ghiani winning in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“The horse is class and showed his form last year, we’ll see how we go but so far he is doing good.”

On the same card there was Group Two action in the Balanchine Presented By Land Rover Stakes.

With The Moonlight was the 2-7 favourite for Appleby and followed a prior Meydan success in the Cape Verdi with another impressive performance.

Ridden by William Buick, the Frankel filly defeated Johnny Murtagh’s Lyrical Poetry by a comfortable four and a half lengths despite a 4lb penalty.

“She came on for the Cape Verdi in every way, the nine furlongs probably suits her a little but better than the mile,” Buick said.

“She’s really getting the hang of it now, she had a good year last year and she’s started off pretty good this year.

“She has a good bit of class and she does everything the right way, she’s a real joy to deal with.”