Advertise storms home in July Stakes
Trainer predicts bright future after easy success De Sousa loses appeal against seven-day ban
Martyn Meade may have been in a hurry to return to Wiltshire during his brief spell in Newmarket, but the Manton trainer’s return to racing’s headquarters yesterday proved a productive one when Advertise confirmed Coventry Stakes form with a resounding win in the Arqana July Stakes.
The colt, a 12-1 shot with Ladbrokes for the 2019 2,000 Guineas, is part-owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds. He was a length behind Calyx at Ascot, racing on the other side of the track, but was well on top at the finish here, beating Konchek by two lengths under Frankie Dettori.
“He was unlucky in the Coventry,” said Meade, whose son-in-law, Dermot Farrington, bought the colt for £60,000 as a yearling. “He won his side and didn’t see the horse [Calyx] on the opposite side. When he saw something today he knew exactly what to do. He’s a big horse so takes a while to get going and Frankie gave him a wonderful ride. He can go a bit further so there are a few options, including the Dewhurst. The pressure now is to pick the right races for him.”
Tim Easterby’s St Leger aspirations for Wells Farhh Go were back on again after a change of tactics saw the colt put two ordinary runs behind him when running out an impressive two-length winner of the Bahrain Trophy.
A bit slow to come to hand anyway, he refused to settle in either the Dante or King Edward VII Stakes when held up, so David Allan let him bowl along, opening a 10-length lead at one stage. That was reduced to 1½ lengths by Loxley a furlong out, but Wells Farhh Go was going away again at the line and one thing is for sure, nothing will outstay him in the Leger, for which he is now 10-1 – it is just a question of whether he can run the speed out of the others.
“We weren’t going to win the Leger the way we were riding him,” said Easterby, who won the Classic in 2002 with Bollin Eric. “He’s got class and we’ll probably go for the Great Voltigeur at York next.”
Allan said: “We’ve been talking about the Leger since he was two so we know he stays. He’s been running a bit free in muddling races and burning himself out. In the Acomb he had to battle so the one thing we know is he has a strong will to win.”
Today, Alpha Centauri, who proved star of the show at Ascot when she won what looked like a hot Coronation Stakes by six lengths, can stamp her authority on Newmarket’s July Meeting by winning the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (3.35).
Jessica Harrington’s strapping filly, who has given the trainer her first Classic in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and first Royal Ascot winner, meets her elders for the first time, but if she is in anything like the form she was at Ascot she should have no trouble disposing of them, whatever their age.
Champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa lost his appeal against a seven-day ban yesterday and will miss July 20-26 inclusive. He had an 18-winner lead over Danny Tudhope in his title defence at the start of racing yesterday.