HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes report and replay: Audience impresses

Primarily in the Newbury race as a pacemaker for stablemate Inspiral, he was well beaten in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next time.

However, dropped back to seven furlongs at Goodwood, the 4/1 shot was dominant, tracking Art Power (16/1) until the furlong pole where he went on and put a widening four lengths between the pair.

In a race where nothing got into it from off the pace, 7/2 favourite Kinross came through for third, a further length adrift.

Audience is now 7/2 for the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes with the sponsors, Betfair and Paddy Power.

Havlin said: “After he won the Lockinge, I told everyone it was no fluke and they laughed. He’s always had a lot of ability. We used to ride him without the hood on but I sat on him on Saturday and he absolutely flew so we thought this was the right time to try him without it.

“He wasn’t very competitive in the Lennox round here last year (finished sixth) but, with the hood off, it really sharpened him up. He’s so controllable now, as well. I didn’t think we were going overly quick up the hill but I let him go at the three (furlong marker) and by God, he was fast.”

“Plainly he didn’t quite stay the stiff mile at Ascot,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson. “We’ve stuck with Rab (Havlin) the whole way through and the horse continues to thrive and they have a great relationship.

“I was thrilled that Pat Thompson was there at Newbury when he won and I’m sorry that they are not here today, but defying a penalty has certainly given everyone plenty to think about.

“We’ll probably go to York for the City Of York Stakes, where he doesn’t carry a penalty, then it’s all to play for. We’ll look at all those races over his favoured seven furlongs.”

John Gosden added: “He’s matured and the mile’s too stiff at Ascot. He’ll go to the City Of York, he was second in it last year to Kinross. He’ll go there, no penalty. That’s the plan. We’ve put him in the Prix de la Foret, last year’s ground would be perfect as it was good to firm. He wouldn’t want traditional Parisian turf. He has the speed for a race like the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar. He could be a horse for it. Travelling would be no problem. Rab knows him really well. He rides him most mornings and every time he nearly takes him home!”

Tim Easterby was proud of the performance of the admirable Art Power, saying: “He’s wonderful. He’s a pony, but he’s wonderful and tries like hell. He’s got an unbelievable temperament. We thought he’d run well. We wanted to run him over a fast seven somewhere; he ran well at York over seven. If it had been softer, it would have been better, but he goes on any ground.

“We want to go for the big race at Ascot in October (Qipco British Champions Sprint), but where we go before then, I don’t know. We’ll get him back home first. But he’s a wonderful horse.”

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