Persian trial just purrfect
BOYS in blue James Doyle and William Buick slugged it out in a ding-dong finish to the Great Voltigeur Stakes.
Doyle edged out his Godolphin colleague as Old Persian wore down better-fancied stablemate Cross Counter in the dying strides.
But the biggest winner was Charlie Appleby who saddled the first two home. In June, Appleby trained Derby winner Masar and now has his sights on two more famous races with Old Persian and Cross Counter.
He said: “The result couldn’t have worked out any better. This has been the plan for Old Persian and he will now go to the St Leger. I put a line through his Irish Derby run as the race didn’t pan out as we thought. He’s had a break and we were confident with him today.
Bubble
“This race was almost an afterthought for Cross Counter after he won so easily at Goodwood. He will go for the Melbourne Cup.”
Old Persian was cut to
7-1 for the St Leger with Unibet, Betway and Ladbrokes and is 8-1 with Paddy Power. Kew Gardens was trimmed to
11-4 with Paddy Power. Phoenix Of Spain came into the Acomb Stakes on the back of winning a tinpot race on the allweather. But he showed his potential by bursting the bubble of the much-vaunted Watan.
Charlie Hills is now dreaming of 2,000 Guineas glory for the grey half-brother to sprinter Lucky Beggar.
Hills said: “He learnt plenty going round Wolverhampton. We went there as the ground was too firm everywhere else.
“Once he saw a bit of daylight today he took off and the track really suited him. He hit the line strong.
“We might look at the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.”