Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes |
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| Group 3, Haydock Park 14:55 £63,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 95y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 8th August 2015 | |
1 Intilaaq 1/3F
2 Master Carpenter 13/2
3 Fire Fighting 8/1
5 ran Distances: 5l, 1½l, 2¼l
TIME 2m 9.21s (slow by 1.71s
Intilaaq comes on strong in the closing stages to take the Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes
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An impressive maiden winner for trainer Roger Varian earlier in the season, he was stepped up markedly in class for the 2000 Guineas but found that company all too much.
Back on track at Newbury last time out, this looked a good opportunity for the 1-3 favourite and Paul Hanagan decided to keep it simple.
John Smith's Cup winner Master Carpenter briefly threatened, but Intilaaq lengthened his stride in the final furlong to win going away by five lengths.
The winner was cut to 12-1 from 20s for the Juddmonte International by MansionBet but Angus Gold, racing manager to winning owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, suggested the York race may come too soon.
"Maybe having a horse to run at helped him last time out, but we wanted to keep it straight forward today," said Gold.
"It was a question of not getting him stuck in a pocket and out-sprinted. I thought he did it well and it looked to me as though his last furlong was the best and I am sure he will he stay further, but whether we do that next I am not sure as I have not spoken to anyone yet.
"I would say that the Juddmonte may come too quick, but it is up the Sheikh what he does. I just think he is a work in progress. He won his maiden well and then went straight up to the Guineas and we don't want to make that mistake again.
"I think he is a really good horse and see him being a Mukhadram-type horse who will improve with another winter on his back.
"The Champion Stakes is an obvious target as I think we are heading towards that level. Whether we give him a run before that or train him just for that race, I am unsure at this stage."
Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes
£63,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 95y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (2) | Intilaaq (USA) 1/3f | P Hanagan 8-8 |
R Varian | 3 | |
| 2nd | (3) | 5 | Master Carpenter (IRE) 13/2 | P Makin 9-3 |
B R Millman | 4 |
| 3rd | (4) | 1½ | Fire Fighting (IRE) 8/1 | P Mulrennan 9-3 |
M Johnston | 4 |
| 4th | (5) | 2¼ | Fattsota 12/1 | D Tudhope 9-3 |
D O'Meara | 7 |
| 5th | (1) | 2½ | Collaboration 18/1 | R Kingscote 9-3 |
A M Balding | 4 |
