Sovereign Debt strikes
Sovereign Debt strikes

Atty Persse pounces late to score at Sandown


The rest of the news from Sandown on Friday, where Atty Persse underlined his potential to overcome trouble and score.

Yorkshire raiders dominated the bet365 Mile at Sandown on Friday as Sovereign Debt held off the late thrust of Gabrial.

Having won on All-Weather Finals Day at Lingfield on just his second run for Ruth Carr, this was a stiffer task but the result barely looked in doubt.

Sent off the 9/2 joint-favourite, the winner sat just off the pace before James Sullivan kicked, taking two lengths out of the field a furlong out, and that proved decisive.

Richard Fahey's Gabrial lunged late but went down by half a length with the same back to Jallota.

The eight-year-old became the oldest winner in the race's history.

"Wasn't I lucky the day I got that phone call! My name just came up when David (Nicholls)) retired," said Carr.

"It's a big day for us, our first runner in a Group race and it's a winner.

"Jimmy kept the ride on him after Lingfield and it's a big day for all the team. He might be eight but he's not getting worse."

She added: "Plan A was Lingfield so where we go next I don't know, we had a choice of coming here or Leicester (King Richard III Stakes on Saturday) but there was twice as much prize money here and it wasn't a much harder race, so that's why we came."

Sullivan said: "I'm two for two at Sandown and two from two on him. He did it very well.

"He travelled, he loved the ground being a bit softer and did it well in the end.

"He showed a good attitude, I was in front a bit soon but he stuck on well."

Atty Persse underlined his star potential when overcoming trouble in running to maintain his unbeaten record with victory in the opening bet365 Esher Cup Handicap.

With entries in both the Dante and the Derby, the three-year-old moved a step nearer to fulfilling those lofty engagements when running out a narrow winner of the mile prize.

After sustaining an early bump, the son of Frankel looked held approaching the final two furlongs having come under a drive from James Doyle, but as the gaps appeared late on the 6/4 favourite stuck his head out to get up on the line and score by a short head.

Winning trainer Roger Charlton said: "It was a tough race. I think for a little horse he got bashed round the bend and squeezed out.

"I thought a furlong and a half out his price had slipped to 20/1. He battled and did it well.

"I don't know where he will go yet. I will talk to John Ferguson and see what he wants to do, they (Godolphin) do not buy horses to run in handicaps. If we can step him up in grade something like the Dee Stakes might be a possibility."

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