Review of the action from Friday's meeting at Newmarket

Limato lands the hat-trick

Limato continued his resurgence by successfully defending his crown in the Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes at Newmarket.

Henry Candy's stable star won twice at Group One level in 2016, landing the July Cup and the Prix de la Foret, but his only victory of last season came in this seven-furlong Group Two.

The six-year-old was disappointing in the first half of the current campaign, including over a mile in the Lockinge at Newbury and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and again failing to fire when bidding for a second July Cup.

However, confidence-boosting Listed-race wins at Newmarket and York got his career back on track and he completed his hat-trick in some style in the hands of Harry Bentley.

The 7/4 favourite was always travelling within his comfort zone and never looked in danger of being caught after striking the front, scoring by a length and a quarter from Zonderland.

Candy said: "He was loving it out in the open. He was enjoying a bit of freedom out there. He was just cantering today. Not at all did I think age had caught up with him (earlier in the season). The whole yard was not really firing at that stage. They all look brilliant when they are going past telegraph poles. He was working with horses that weren't quite right and I was kidding myself he was OK and he wasn't."

He went on: "I always had great faith in him and his attitude is fantastic. When they've had enough they usually tell you, but he was wanting to do it the whole time. He loves that firm ground. He has got a great following and he deserves it."

Asked whether Limato could make a swift reappearance in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot next Saturday, Candy said: "It is not impossible. In the old days he would want a month between races, but he is a totally different horse now. I suppose it is unlikely, but we will see how he is in the next couple of days."

America next for Sergei

Sergei Prokofiev could be bound for the Breeders' Cup after outclassing his rivals in the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien's colt looked a top-class prospect after registering successive wins in the spring and was far from disgraced when third behind Calyx and Advertise in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was a shade disappointing on his two most recent outings in the Phoenix and Middle Park Stakes, but showed his true colours in this five-furlong Group Three on the Rowley Mile under a confident ride from the trainer's son, Donnacha.

The 3/1 favourite was still at the rear of the field racing inside the final two furlongs, but made rapid headway once switched wide and passed the post a length and a quarter clear of Well Done Fox, without being asked for maximum effort.

O'Brien said: "He was always so quick at home. The first time we stepped him up to six furlongs he lost that bit of brilliance. It's amazing the difference a furlong makes - obviously he is really a five-furlong horse.

"We were going to let him relax wherever he was. Donnacha did give him a very good ride. It's very rare to come from the back like that. It's possible he could go to America (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint). He has had a busy enough campaign and it might be possible we put him away for next year."

Juste too good

The father-son combination looked to have a strong chance of completing a quickfire double in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes with Dundalk maiden winner Frosty.

However, the full-sister to four-times Group One winner Winter finished well-beaten behind Roger Varian's 12/1 winner Mot Juste.

Successful on her third start at Beverley last month, the American-bred filly was pressed by Angel's Hideaway late on, but passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good under William Buick.

Buick said: "She travelled very smoothly. It was very windy, but she had a nice bit of cover and did it well."

Asked whether he felt Mot Juste could be a 1000 Guineas contender, the jockey added: "I'm sure the connections will be thinking that way and rightly so. They can dream through the winter and I see no problem with her getting the mile."

GET THE FULL PICTURE: Don't miss out on FREE video replays and our fantastic My Stable tracker. Log in now and become a Sporting Life Insider.

Related horse racing links

• Sky Bet's horse racing odds
• Free horse racing betting tips
• All today's racecards
• Today's fast results
• Today's full results
• Non-runners
• Today's Goings
• Today's Naps Table
• ABC Guide