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Viztoria Back to Best in OLBG Park Stakes
14/09/13

1 Viztoria 7/2
2 Lockwood 5/1
3 Gregorian 9/4F
NR: Aljamaaheer (IRE), Pintura
9 ran Distances: ¾l, 1¼l, 1¼l
TIME 1m 25.54s (slow by 1.74s)

Viztoria bounced back from a disappointing run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot with an authoritative victory in the OLBG Park Stakes at Doncaster this afternoon.

Viztoria
© Caroline Norris

The7/2 second-favourite was always travelling well under Wayne Lordan and she skipped away from the field when asked for her effort a furlong out to record a three quarters of a length success from 5/1 shot Lockwood.

The three-year-old has now won in Group Two company, as well as picking up the Group Three Athasi Stakes at the Curragh and last year’s Listed Blenheim Stakes at the same track, but it could have been a different story had the horse been sold at Tattersalls in October, 2011 by brother and sister owners John and Sheila Lavery.

“She’s been an incredible filly for us and has brought the whole family into racing,” said Sheila Lavery.

“However, it’s only by chance that we still have her as we bought her for 15,000 euros at Goffs as a pinhooking project in February, 2011 and she failed to sell at Tattersalls later that year. We put a reserve of £9,000 on her that day which looks a bit cheap now!

“We’re absolutely thrilled with that result. Eddie (Lynam, the trainer) has always thought she needed a bit of juice in the ground and she wasn’t able to do herself justice at Ascot as the ground was too quick. We’ve waited for the ground to turn and it’s paid off.

“Eddie’s not here today as he’s at the Curragh to watch his daughter ride in the Amateur Derby there but I imagine he’ll be delighted with that. She’s got a very good record when the ground is soft so we’ve got the Prix de la Foret (at Longchamp) in mind for her. Whether she’ll have a race in between, I don’t know.”

Jockey Wayne Lordan was also quick to praise the trainer.

“Eddie Lynam told me this morning that she would travel really well and he told me to keep sitting on her for as long as I could. She has done exactly that. When I asked her to pick up, she just took her a few strides to get into top gear but she went to the line well.

“She is an improving filly. She has only had a couple of runs this year and she is a going the right way. That was a Group Two but the next step is another thing.

“The ground isn’t too bad so hopefully Galileo Rock will go through it OK.”

OLBG Park Stakes (Group 2)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

LOCKWOOD’S SECOND PLEASES GODOLPHIN

Lockwood, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, finished second to Viztoria, being caught inside the final furlong and going down by three quarters of a length.

The progressive grey broke smartly from the stalls and was always prominent towards the stands’ side.

He disputed the lead before taking up the running after three furlongs and went for home below the distance.

Lockwood was challenged by the winner in the final furlong and caught with about 100 yards to go. He kept on to retain second by a length and quarter. The winning time was 1m 25.54s.

Bin Suroor commented: “He ran well. This horse has improved physically after each race.

“He tried really hard today but was beaten by a better horse – there are no excuses.

“We could go to the seven-furlong Challenge Stakes at Newmarket or to France for a Group One over a mile.”

Gregorian
© Racehorse Photos

WILDENSTEIN FOR GREGORIAN

The tough and consistent Gregorian put in another fine display despite being on ground that he doesn’t really like, when coming home in third in the Group Two OLBG Park Stakes.

The grey Clodovil colt has only once been out of the frame this season, when fifth in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, and his placing here didn’t disappoint trainer John Gosden.

“He ran fine but he found the ground too sticky – it is holding and sticky and he doesn’t like that.

“We will look at the Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc weekend next for him.”

William Buick, who rode the 9/4 favourite, added: “He ran his usual good race but the ground is just too tacky for him.”

RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP

2012 Libranno Richard Hannon Kieren Fallon McDowell Racing 16/1
2011 Premio Loco Chris Wall George Baker Bernard Westley 15/8 fav
2010 Balthazaar’s Gift Clive Cox Philip Robinson H E Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan 16/1
2009 Duff Edward Lynam IRE Fran Berry Kilboy Estate 7/1
2008 Arabian Gleam Jeremy Noseda Johnny Murtagh Saeed Suhail 9/1
2007 Arabian Gleam Jeremy Noseda Johnny Murtagh Saeed Suhail 5/2
2006 Iffraaj Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 4/6 fav
2005 Iffraaj Michael Jarvis Philip Robinson Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 7/1
2004 Pastoral Pursuits Hughie Morrison Steve Drowne The Pursuits Partnership 5/1
2003 Polar Ben James Fanshawe Jamie Spencer Simon Gibson 5/1
2002 Duck Row James Toller Richard Hughes Duke Of Devonshire 8/1
2001 Tough Speed Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon Saeed Suhail 6/1
2000 Distant Music Barry Hills Michael Hills Khalid Abdullah 4/1
1999 Sugarfoot Nigel Tinkler Pat Eddery Mrs D Wright 15/2