‘Hobson’ captures Cup for Mullins

WILLIE MULLINS showed his versatility on the Flat by sending out Thomas Hobson and Max Dynamite to finish 1-2 for leading owner Rich Ricci in the Doncaster Cup and it’s next stop Melbourne for both.

Thomas Hobson, runner-up to Desert Skyline in last year’s renewal of the Group Two contest, was the 2/1 favourite to go one better under Ryan Moore, who settled his mount at the rear of the field for much of the two-and-a-quarter-mile journey.

Max Dynamite, best known for his narrow defeat in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, was ridden more prominently by Andrea Atzeni and quickened to lead at the two-furlong pole.

However, Moore covered the move aboard the strong-travelling Thomas Hobson and while his stablemate did not go down without a fight, the market leader always looked the stronger and won the battle by a cosy half-length. The pair were seven lengths clear of Sheikhzayedroad in third.

Mullins was at Listowel, where he stayed: “We had thought both horses were working better at home than they had been running, so it’s great to see their home work coming out in them.

“I doubt they’ll run before the Melbourne Cup, but I haven’t spoken to Rich yet. I imagine that books their tickets there.”

Earlier, Aidan O’Brien’s Gossamer Wings finished third to the Archie Watson-trained Soldier’s Call (4/1) which made all the running to land the Flying Childers Stakes.