Mighty Mo’s a Royal star

MOHAWK (8-1) led ★

home a one-twothree for Aidan O’Brien in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.

The Ballydoyle

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handler had saddled five previous winners of the Group Two contest and possessed a strong hand as he went in search of a sixth.

The outsider of the ★

trio, Sydney Opera House, cut out much of the running alongside Mark Johnston’s Victory Command and still held a narrow advantage racing inside the final two furlongs.

However, Mohawk ★

soon took over in the hands of the trainer’s son Donnacha and powered clear for a decisive one-and-aquarter-length success.

Sydney Opera

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House was a clear second ahead of another stablemate, Cape Of Good Hope, in third.

The previously

★

unbeaten Beatboxer was the 7-4 favourite for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, but he was in trouble from an early stage and trailed home last of the seven runners.

O’Brien said of

★

Mohawk, who is now being quoted as 33/1 for next year’s Derby: “He is a lovely horse and has been progressing lovely. He won second time out then he ran very well in Group races after that.

“He loved going a ★

mile and he will be a lovely middle-distance horse. He might not run any more this year and be put away to start in the Classic trials.

“I’d imagine he has ★

done enough (for the season), that is what we’re thinking at the moment, but that can change.”

Of the placed

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horses, the trainer added: “We were very happy with them as well. Sydney Opera House is a lovely, middle-distance horse and Cape Of Good Hope is the same.

“Cape Of Good

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Hope has had a bit of time since he ran, but he ran a lovely race and has been progressing with every run.”