Haatef outflanks Diadem rivals
Irish raider Haatef looks to be another new kid on the block in the sprinting division after lifting the Group Two John Guest Diadem Stakes at Ascot.
Trainer Kevin Prendergast prepared his colt for the 2000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance, on which he was only 10th, but some recent outings over shorter distances have proved more fruitful.
Under Richard Hills, riding him for the first time, Haatef (8-1) tanked along but it was only just before the line when he assumed command over the brave Dark Missile and Assertive.
“I watched him in the Guineas and I know he was really fancied in that,” reported Hills.
“Kevin said the cut in the ground would help and to take your time with him.
“We had our luck because the speed was on the outside, and that also helped.
“He’s showed he’s going to be a good sprinter and I’d stay there (at that distance).”
Sir Michael Stoute pulled off a masterstroke by preparing Ask to win the Grosvenor Casinos Cumberland Lodge Stakes.
It had been 142 days since the four-year-old had last competed on a racecourse when he defeated Scorpion at Chester but a foot problem had placed his season on pause.
This impressive two-length victory over Zaham posed a lot of interesting questions for the future as Ask is still entered in next weekend’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The 11-4 shot took a while to pick up for Ryan Moore as St Leger third Honolulu (6-4 favourite) made his move.
But he built up a fine head of steam to take his pilot past 100 winners for the season.
Owner Pat Fahey was pressed as to whether Ask could still head for the Arc and said: “Sir Michael would decide that but I wouldn’t think so.
“He’s also entered in the Coppa D’Oro in Milan in two weeks’ time.”
Moore’s century came for Stoute in the SIS Fenwolf Stakes as Distinction (13-8 favourite) dead-heated with Solent (28-1).
The pair battled all the way down the straight and although Distinction looked to be keeping Solent on the rails, the stewards took no action despite studying the race for some time afterwards.
Stoute’s charge will now head for the Jockey Club Cup, while Solent’s trainer Richard Hannon believes he is likely to be sold.
Godolphin have another smart juvenile on their hands in 9-4 favourite Ibn Khaldun, who bolted up in the Security Company Nursery under Frankie Dettori.
He was quoted at 25-1 with sponsors Stan James for the 2000 Guineas.
All The Good (8-1) is another heading for the sales but earned a fond send-off from handler Gerard Butler by coming with an Eddie Ahern-inspired late burst to steal the Marchpole Handicap.
Hannon ended the card with a winner in his own right as Orchard Supreme (25-1) and late replacement Tadhg O’Shea grimly held on to the Brunswick Handicap.
