Poet’s Word lines up Group One hat-trick at York
Sir Michael Stoute believes patience has been the key to unlocking the true potential of Poet’s Word as he heads into the Juddmonte International chasing a Group One hat-trick.
Now a five-year-old, he already has two of the biggest prizes of the season over different distances in the bag, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the King George back there a month later.
He is now one of the highestrated horses in the world, yet he began last season in a handicap on the all-weather.
Stoute said: “His work has been very satisfactory. He seems in good shape and we’re looking forward to bringing him up to York.
“He has won Group Ones at both distances so he seems to be an all-rounder.
“He is a very sound horse with a good mind. So he is an easy horse to train and the owner has let me bring him along quietly, which has suited him. So it has all fallen into place until now.”
Poet’s Word got the better of John Gosden’s Cracksman in the Prince of Wales’s, but with the ground drying out the Clarehaven handler takes him on with two three-yearolds this time.
Roaring Lion is his main hope having won the Eclipse last time out, while Without Parole needs to bounce back after losing his unbeaten record in the Sussex Stakes.
Jockey Oisin Murphy is in the middle of a purple patch and is hoping that Roaring Lion extends it.
“The weight for age is kind and Roaring Lion is really well in himself. He’s been working well and John’s very happy with him, so I’m excited,” said Murphy.
Meanwhile, Delph Crescent won a thrilling renewal of the £25,000 feature race at Hamilton Park yesterday.
Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Paul Hanagan, the 5-1 chance pipped Ayutthaya by a nose in the BB Foodservice Scottish Trophy Handicap over 1m 1f.
Hanagan said: “He’s very, very tough. I knew he’d see the trip out well as I won on him over a mile and a quarter at York last month.
“We’ve had a right battle all the way to the line and I don’t know if I’d held on or not. He’s had a great season already and he’s probably still improving.”
Mark Johnston was out of luck in his quest to become the outright winning-most trainer in Britain as Poet’s Prince was the last of the 14 runners while his other runner, Smile A Mile, was fourth to impressive Happy Power in the opening juvenile contest.
Happy Power, who cost 625,000gns as a yearling, was a rare runner at the Lanarkshire venue for Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding.
Ben Curtis was the jockey to followwithatreblesuppliedby Collide, Guardia Svizzera and Liars Corner while local trainer Keith Dalgleish chipped in with a double courtesy of Dark Defender and Crazy Tornado.