Stoute ace back in the swing
Rob Roy’s disappointing year was given some belated lustre as he set the record straight in the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London Joel Stakes at Newmarket.
Sent off the second-favourite for the 2000 Guineas in May on the strength of reputation as much as his form, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt finished stone last of the 19 runners.
But having seen his charge return home with sore shins, Stoute successfully nursed Rob Roy back to full health and despite a slightly below-par return to action at Doncaster earlier in the month, he turned in a much-improved effort to take this Group Three prize.
Despite running slightly free in the early stages, the 17-2 chance quickened nicely in the final stages to account for Ancient World by three-quarters of a length.
“He ran dismally in the Guineas but he has done well to overcome that experience,” said jockey Mick Kinane.
“When he met the rising ground he picked up and he was going away at the finish.
“I think a mile and a quarter might be his optimum trip next season.”
Stoute confirmed this would be Rob Roy’s final start of the season.
“He was actually pretty lame after the Guineas and we had to pinfire his shins,” he said. “I think the conditions found him out at Doncaster last time, having been off for so long.
“Even today he was just a little rusty for a while, but then Mick got hold of him and he was going away at the the end. I’d like to turn him out now.”
Runner-up Ancient World returned with a cut to a hind leg and was sent to the stables for further investigation.
Henry Cecil brightened up a grey afternoon for his loyal followers when sending out Focus Group to take the opening event.
Cecil has had plenty of scorers at his local track over the years, but these days winner are harder to come by for the master of Warren Place and it was a relieved man who welcomed the 16-1 winner home.
Jimmy Quinn’s mount led just inside the final furlong before getting the better of a battle with Notnowcato by a neck for the Woodford Reserve Handicap.
“He has had terrible problems with the stalls and he has needed a lot of time,” said Cecil of the winner, who was having only his second career start having been off the course for more than a year.
“At lunch everyone was asking me whether he was going to win and I told them all not to back him, so there were some long faces around me as he went into the lead.
“He’s in the sales at the end of the season so we’ll have to see what Prince Khalid (Abdullah) wants to do.”
Munsef was the next winner to defy a lengthy absence from the track as he completed a hat-trick of victories when taking the Fishpools Furnishings Godolphin Stakes.
The winner of the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot at York on his latest start, the John Dunlop-trained son of Zafonic came back jarred up from that start with Dunlop blaming the “very suspect ground”.
But he has clearly suffered no ill-effects from his three-month spell on the sidelines and made steady headway from the three-furlong pole to lead inside the final furlong and claim the Listed prize by a length and a quarter from Defining.
Favourite Into The Dark led until the final quarter-mile but faded close home to finish fifth, beaten some 10 lengths by the winner.
Dunlop admitted to being surprised at the success of the 8-1 winner, who might not have been expected to handle the soft conditions underfoot as a son of fast ground performer Zafonic.
“We have only just managed to get him back for today and I was expecting him to need it today because he was very sore after Ascot and we had to give him a good rest,” he said.
“Richard (Hills) said he appreciated getting his toe in and he is a very progressive horse.”
James Fanshawe is eyeing the St Simon Stakes at Newbury for runner-up Defining.
Consistent performer Pango edged out Compton’s Eleven to take the newmarketexperience.co.uk Handicap under Travis Block.
But the biggest upset of the day came in the Hungry Horse EBF Maiden Stakes when 50-1 chance Arm Candy made all under Kevin Darley.
The James Toller-trained daughter of Nashwan made the most of her racecourse experience as she saw off all challengers before running out the three-length winner.
Jockey Paul Hanagan was taken to hospital after an incident in the paddock before the race when he was unseated from debutant Maximix, who was withdrawn.
Hanagan was attended by paramedics at the scene before being taken for precautionary X-rays to his collar-bone.
The rider only recently returned to action having fractured the bone in a fall at Pontefract six weeks ago.
