Review of the action from Saturday's meeting at Newbury
A review of the action from Saturday's meeting at Newbury where Sir Dancealot won the Hungerford Stakes.
Dancealot has winning moves
Hot favourite Gustav Klimt failed to fire as Sir Dancealot claimed an impressive success in the Ladyswood Stud Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.
Having been placed in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jean Prat, Gustav Klimt was last seen finishing fourth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Dropping in distance and class, Aidan O'Brien's colt was a warm order as the 15-8 favourite, but was under pressure from an early stage and ultimately finished well-beaten.
The David Elsworth-trained Sir Dancealot had already claimed a couple of big-race victories over his favoured seven furlongs this season, triumphing in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket in June and the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood late last month.
The 4-1 shot was initially held up by veteran French jockey Gerald Mosse, but made rapid progress to hit the front over a furlong out and never looked in real danger of being caught, scoring readily by a length and a quarter.
Dream Of Dreams was second ahead of Breton Rock in third.
It's victory for Sir Dancealot in the Hungerford Stakes at @NewburyRacing!
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Melbourne next for Hamada
Hamada continued his winning spree with a clear-cut victory in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
The gelded son of Cape Cross lined up in the Group Three contest having won each of his three starts since returning from the best part of two years on the sidelines, completing his hat-trick with a dominant display in a Newmarket handicap last month.
He is now Sky Bet's 14/1 second-favourite for the Flemington showpiece.
Stepping up in class, Charlie Appleby's four-year-old was the 7-4 favourite in the hands of James Doyle, who positioned his mount in behind his pacesetting stable companion Walton Street.
Walton Street kept up the gallop to keep himself in contention, with first Raymond Tusk and then Hamada coming through to join him in the straight.
Raymond Tusk was short of room approaching the final furlong after Hamada hung across him, but it made little difference to the result as the latter forged clear late on for a decisive two-and-a-half-length success.
Speaking from France, Appleby said: "We decided to swerve the Ebor (at York next week) with both Hamada and Walton Street in the hope they would go to Newbury and confirm their slot for Australia.
"We felt it was the slightly easier option, going to Newbury rather than York, and it's worked out really well. Hamada is getting better with racing and I feel he's got the right sort of profile to go to Australia.
"We'll find out what weights both horses get for the Melbourne Cup next week. I'd quite like to go straight there (with Hamada) if possible, as he's had plenty of racing this year already, but it depends what weight he gets."
'He's a star and does everything you ask of him' - James Doyle on Hamada
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Richard Hannon was pleased with the performance of Raymond Tusk, who will now be targeted at next month's William Hill St Leger at Doncaster.
The trainer said: "It was a super run. He was just a bit gassy. He lost a lot of weight when he came back from Scotland after winning the Listed race up there, but I knew he would improve for that and we had to get some weight back on him.
"He slightly did a bit of the donkey work and was slightly softened up by the other Godolphin horse. He got in bit of trouble and still ran on to be second. The trip is no problem and we will absolutely go to the St Leger. I think the interference will have done him good experience-wise and hardened him up. It was the ideal run."
Boitron sparks Guineas dream
Richard Hannon will work back from next year's QIPCO 2000 Guineas with Boitron after he maintained his unbeaten record with an authoritative victory in the Denford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
After making a winning debut at the Berkshire track last month before following up at Doncaster, the son of Le Havre took another step forward when looking a class above his rivals in the Listed contest.
Travelling smoothly into contention, the 5-4 favourite quickly put the race to bed when sent on by Silvestre De Sousa, crossing the line a length and three-quarters clear of Dutch Treat to earn a 20/1 quote from Sky Bet for the Newmarket Classic.
Hannon said: "He is a very nice horse. The first time he won here, I didn't think he would win like he did. It is the way he moves that makes him a very good horse. He won that lovely and Silvestre said he gave him a good feel. He got a bit anxious in the gates today which I was a bit surprised at.
"He doesn't pull and just does his thing. He is very economical and that is what sets him apart from the others. The Lagardere has got to be an option and the Dewhurst. He has got a lot of speed and seven might be his optimum trip now. You have got to work back from the Guineas next year."
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