Fallon looks forward to Masterpiece Ascot meeting
Kieren Fallon is looking forward to meeting up with Court Masterpiece at Royal Ascot at York after the five-year-old spreadeagled his rivals at Goodwood last night.
Ed Dunlop’s horse won by nine lengths, after which the former champion jockey exclaimed: “If only they were all as easy as that!”
Fallon’s mount tracked long-time leader Elliots World before hitting the front with a furlong to run in the Listed UBS Laing & Cruickshank On The House Stakes.
From there he cruised to success, vindicating his position as 13-8 favourite as he put plenty of fresh air between himself and Mark Johnston’s runner.
“It was so easy,” said Fallon. “He’s never run like that before. I didn’t have to move on him and couldn’t believe how well he was travelling three out. Roll on Royal Ascot – because he’s bound to be found in a race there.”
Private Business looked a horse to note after he showed a terrific turn of foot to get the better of Trans Sonic in the six-furlong Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate EBF Maiden Stakes.
Sporting the pink and green Khalid Abdullah silks, Richard Hughes taught the Cozzene colt plenty and the well-backed 11-2 shot flew at the finish, getting up to earn a neck success.
Charlie Hills, representing his father, trainer Barry, said: “He took it really well and travelled well throughout. He was a bit keen early in the spring and so we gave him a bit of time. I doubt we will go to York for the Royal meeting.”
The race was notable last season for the winning introduction of leading Derby fancy Dubawi.
Zonic Boom, sent off the 9-2 favourite for the Elm Farm Research Centre Handicap Stakes, ran out a gallant three-length winner under 3lb-claimer Neil Chalmers.
The Heather Dalton-trained five-year-old hit the front at the three-furlong pole and stayed on in great style to beat Whitgift Rock in the nine-furlong event.
Miss Dalton’s brother, Malcolm McCaull, said: “We knew he’d stay, but he has been missing the break in his last couple of runs. He only has one sustained run and he wants quickish ground, so we were a bit worried about the rain.
“He’ll probably go hurdling, but we might find a race for him on the Flat again beforehand.”
The ground had eased to good to soft before the second race and by the fourth they were getting their toe in properly.
That helped Richard Hannon’s Corky, who caused a 20-1 upset when winning the seven-furlong Ecologist Handicap under Pat Dobbs.
John Gosden delivered a broadside at the makers of the new Australian starting stalls despite Manda Island’s three-quarters-of-a-length success from Arabian Spell in the Goodwood Organic Farm Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The race lost a little of its lustre when three horses were withdrawn at the start of the mile event.
Linden Lime refused to enter the stalls and both Pine Cone and Issa became unruly.
After welcoming in the Jimmy Fortune-ridden winner, Gosden said: “The sooner these stalls are put back in the boxes they came in and sent back to Australia, the better it will be for everyone.
“People’s lives are at risk and I think we are well past the stage of modification. I’m afraid I have lost all faith in the process. They are cheaply and badly made and they have simply got to go.”
Of his 12-1 winner, a neat-looking Dynaformer debutant, he added: “She’s a sweet thing and a mile and a quarter is her trip. She has a bit of scope.”
Ryan Moore is in confident mood for his first taste of the Vodafone Derby and Unfurled’s partner warmed up when taking the concluding Soil Association Handicap Stakes on Sir Michael Stoute’s Kingdom Of Dreams (7-4).
After the length-and-three-quarters success from Piccolomini, Stoute’s assistant Gary Weir said: “That was a nice ride. He’s done it quite nicely, but he is not a typical Sadler’s Wells – we didn’t think he would like the good to soft ground.
“We almost pulled him out when the rain came, but it appeared to suit him. There are no plans for him. I don’t think he’s a horse for York’s Royal meeting.”
