Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes result, report, reaction and free video replay

It didn't look like that would be the case when eventual runner-up Adonius (5/1) took a length out of the field shortly after the two furlong marker.

However Sean Levey was conjuring up a challenge aboard the Richard Hannon-trained winner who swept past and went on to score by two lengths.

The strong-travelling Hell Of A Spin (66/1) ran well in third.

Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes Result

1st PERSHAADA 11/4 favourite

2nd Adonius 5/1

3rd Hell Of A Spin 66/1

Watch free video replay of Pershaada winning the Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes

Post-race reaction:

Richard Hannon said: “I thought Pershaada would run very well today. She has been working very nicely and has actually won really well. We trained the stallion Persian Force, so it is good for him.

"She is an extremely fast filly and there is a good chance we might have a look at the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. She looks quick enough for that. She seems to win with a lot of authority, especially today, and that screams to me that, with the weight allowance from the older horses in a sprint, she would have a great chance.”

Sean Levey said: “The form suggested Pershaada should be bang there. She was favourite and has done what we all thought she should do. She has been inclined to be a little generous early, showing you that speed. I have always thought that, if she learned to race behind the bit a little bit more, she would find a bit of a turn of foot in those closing stages. I think that is what we achieved today.

"By halfway, she kind of lit up a bit before I wanted her to. That is when I was on the heels in a congested spot. I did not really want her to be engaging at that moment; I was waiting for it to open before I asked her. But she came back to me quickly enough, then waited again, and it opened. She was then able to show that turn of foot.

"Adonius sets a high standard; he sets huge fractions up there, but the more competitive the racing gets, the better it suits our filly. I prefer her to find her rhythm at a high cruising speed while reserving something to finish with. She has learned to do that today, but she has not quite perfected it yet, and I think we will see more from her as she perfects that."

Rebecca Menzies said of Adonius: “He wears his heart on his sleeve, and you could not be any happier with him. He has bumped into a very good horse and had the rest well beaten. We have not lost any faith in him, we have always held him in very high regard, and he is the horse we have been looking for. We will keep turning up on the big days, hopefully.

"He has been amazing for us, from his first win until now, and the media attention he has received, with the backstory of him coming from a smaller yard up north, has been great. We have never had a horse as good as him on the Flat. We have had some pretty good horses, but they have always been sold on.

"I said after Chester that we were lucky to keep hold of him for the Lily Agnes, because normally when we get a nice horse, they are on their way and gone. It was so good to get the opportunity to prove we can handle this type of horse. He is not the normal type of horse we are known for training, but I absolutely adore training him and want more of them. I think they are very hard to find, and we are very lucky.

"We could maybe go for a Group Three in France, as he goes on a bit of cut in the ground as well. These lads (Michael Hughes, Riverdee and West Paces) all want to go to America. The 'Win and You're In' today would have been nice, but that is still on the agenda. I think there is a $350,000 race, and I would love for this horse to end up in America. That is the dream, and we will work back from that. If we could win a Group race in between, that would be brilliant."

Hell Of A Spin’s trainer Adrian Keatley said: “I was not surprised. The only thing I was worried about was the draw. We were drawn out on the wing, which was never going to help him, and I felt, even crossing the line, that if we had been drawn a couple of places further in, we could have got second.

"We would not have beaten the winner on the day, but Hamilton is a hell of a racecourse for producing good two-year-old winners. This fella is very straightforward, he does everything you ask of him, and he has a great mind. I think there is definitely a black-type race in him.

"I do have him in the Gimcrack, and I will probably have a look at France. A Group Two or Group Three over there could be right up his alley, and he would have the mind for taking it all in and travelling. There are loads of options for him yet. When I saw this fella, I always thought he was going to be a decent horse, and he showed it today. Onwards and upwards."

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