1425 Chester - Sportingbet.com Huxley Stakes
1st Deauville 6/4F
2nd Poet's Word 4/1
Report
Deauville took command from the off as he made all the running in the hands of Ryan Moore to take the sportingbet.com Huxley Stakes.
The 6/4 favourite, who boasted home high-class form last season, including victory in the Belmont Derby, enjoyed the quick ground and quickened from the front three furlongs out.
The turn of pace he produced at that point had seen him stretch a couple of lengths clear early in the straight, but he then had to find more close home to keep the staying-on Poet's Word at bay.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained winner crossed the line just a neck in front to land the Group Three prize.
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Ryan Moore: "He jumped a length, a length and a half, quicker than them all. He was able to control the race. He loves fast ground and is a good-moving horse.
"He's a tough, hard horse who knows how to race. He's a Grade One winner in America who likes decent ground.
"We'll talk to Aidan and he'll decide where we go from here."
Aidan O'Brien: "Ryan gave him a beautiful ride. He jumped out well and you'd have to be very happy with him.
"He's a very uncomplicated horse, who is very genuine. You can ride him from the front or just sit handy.
"He's a beautiful mover and obviously top of the ground when you have a horse who moves like that has to be best.
"He's obviously in all the races. We can look at the Curragh (Tattersalls Gold Cup), we can look at (Royal) Ascot - he's a very versatile horse.
"A mile and a quarter is probably as far as he wants to go, but he's a very professional and very straightforward and sound horse.
"We'll try and pick a race for him and split them all up if we can.
"He is a very professional flier so that opens up more options for him later in the year."
