Latest news from Saturday's meeting at Newbury

Crowley pleased as Elarqam back on track

Elarqam made virtually all to win the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup.

Jim Crowley’s mount was recording the sixth victory of his career although it looked in doubt at the two furlong pole as all three of his rivals looked to challenge and he was momentarily headed.

In the end it was the last to play his hand, Desert Encounter, who emerged as the biggest threat but the 2/1 winner was going away again at the line, winning by a length-and-a-half.

“It was lovely to see him battle there and he’s a much better horse on top of the ground. He got his own way out in front and he enjoyed it and when the other horse headed him it helped him and gave him something to aim at,” the winning jockey said.

“He’s been highly tried and has plenty of ability. It’s good to see him back on track.”

Trainer Mark Johnston said: “It is great to see him back winning. It’s a shame it hasn’t been on a big day this year.

“If you look at his form last year, you would have said he should be winning a Group One this year and unfortunately it hasn’t fallen his way. We were running out of opportunities and that is why we came here, as there wasn’t really anywhere else to go. Everything has gone his way today, so it was good to see.

“It has been a frustrating season. When you look at his run in the Juddmonte last year, you would have said he showed there he was well and truly a Group One horse.

“With a pedigree like his, you would expect to see him get a Group One for a good stud job. I’m sure he will get a good stud job, but we want to see him get a good one, that is why it has been frustrating.

“I don’t think it matters where you run him. He is a bit lazy. If you think back to his best run this year at Haydock, given another 100 yards he would have got back up. He just gets a bit idle in front and needs something to aim at. If they sprint at him too quickly, it doesn’t give him time to respond.

“I don’t know what we do now to be honest. I just wanted to get another win back under his belt, but we are running out of opportunities.”

Haggas star continues to shine

Ilaraab completed a four-timer with his most valuable victory to date in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap.

Martin Dwyer was in the saddle aboard William Haggas’ charge who looked set for a comfortable victory when quickening to the front at the furlong pole.

However the 15/2 chance had to tough it out as Royal Marine (12/1) burst through but he held on by a neck.

“He did it well and is a lovely big horse who got into a nice rhythm. The ground is probably a bit quick for him and he wandered to the rail but he has ability and is definitely progressive,” the winning rider said.

Maureen Haggas added: “He travelled really well all the way round and he did well to get him in from a not very nice draw and he’s improving. He’s getting better with every race and is a very nice, straightforward horse and very easy to train.”

Betfair and Paddy Power cut the winner to 12s from 16s for next week’s Bet365 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.

Godolphin strike with Lazuli

William Buck and Charlie Appleby combined to win the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes with Lazuli.

The three-year-old was always towards the head of affairs and went on inside the distance to score by a length from Tis Marvellous (5/1). The strong-travelling 13/8 favourite Equilateral was third.

"He was very good. I didn't think we'd seen the best of him yet and I was very pleased with the performance. He's a young sprinter who's going to be even better next year. There were some seasoned old sprinters in there today so it was a nice performance," the winning jockey told ITV Racing.

125/1 winner surprises connections

Andrew Balding admitted to being as surprised as anyone after Oo Da Lally sprang a 125/1 surprise in division one of the Heatherwold Stud EBF Novice Stakes.

The son of Vadamos beat only one home on debut at Ascot but was revelation here, finishing strongly to get the better of Aratus (33/1).

The race was expected to go the ways of 4/6 favourite Mithras but John Gosden's charge never threatened to land a blow in fourth.

"It was a very pleasant surprise. I told the owner we were one for later down the line so didn't give him much hope. He didn't show a lot at Ascot on debut so we weren't expecting much but clearly he'd sharpened up for the run! I hope someone somewhere in the country backed him," Balding smiled.