Telescope reaches for the stars

Telescope turned in one of the best performances at Royal Ascot this week with a resounding seven-length success in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Telescope reaches for the stars

Telescope turned in one of the best performances at Royal Ascot this week with a resounding seven-length success in the Hardwicke Stakes.

The Galileo colt has twice been thumped by Noble Mission this term, but made no mistake at the biggest show in town.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute was winning the race for an eighth time.

Just for good measure, the on-song Newmarket handler saddled fast-finishing runner-up Hillstar in the coveted Group Two over a mile and a half.

Sent off the 7-4 favourite, Telescope travelled beautifully from the outset as Ektihaam, who slipped up in the Hardwicke 12 months ago, cut out the early running.

Eye Of The Storm, Ballydoyle’s one-eyed colt, joined that rival towards the head of affairs as the field swung for home, with Pether’s Moon, who eventually finished third, also prominent.

Approaching the penultimate furlong, it soon became clear that it was a one-horse race.

Although Hillstar stayed on stoutly for Frankie Dettori, Telescope had all bases covered in the trusty hands of Ryan Moore.

Moore said: ``He's got a real good attitude in his races now.

“It probably wasn’t the strongest Hardwicke, but I was delighted with the he did everything during the race and he stayed on very well.

“He sees that trip out very well, 10 (furlongs) has just been a bit short for him the last twice.

“He travelled very well at Chester, but when I let him down he struggled on that ground.

“This was obviously a career-best and hopefully he can push on from here.”

Stoute felt the faster ground at Ascot played more to Telescope's strengths than earlier in the term.

He said: “The two races he’s had this year have been run on unsuitable ground for him, so I was thrilled to see him do that.”

Harry Herbert, manager for Telescope’s owners, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing manager, earmarked the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Ascot in July as an “obvious” next port of call.

He said: “He’s such an exciting horse and, as Ryan was just saying there, he’s a man now.

“It’s taken a while for him to learn how to race, but he’s grown up.

“In his first two races this year, Stoutey always said we were probably going to need them.

“We hoped we might beat Noble Mission second time up at Chester. We got closer, but he’s got his ground today.

“It was the right trip and that was a hell of a performance.

“I stood here after Harbinger had won as impressively (in 2010) and I said, ’Come on, let’s go for the King George’.

“Sir Michael will make those decisions, but you’d be pretty bonkers not to say it’s the obvious race having performed like that.”

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