2012 July Stakes

racing_news/

Anjaal Enters Guineas Picture with July Stakes Victory
11/07/13

1 Anjaal 14/1
2 Figure Of Speech 7/2
3 Jallota 20/1
11 ran Distances: nk, hd, ¾l
TIME 1m 11.21s (slow by 1.01s)

Anjaal finished with a rattle under Paul Hanagan to get up in the dying strides of the Portland Place Properties July Stakes at Newmarket.

© racinguk.com

Heading into this Group Two assignment, the youngster was the least fancied of two runners for the Hannon stable, who had won two of the previous three renewals, at 14-1 and was under pressure from halfway.

Godolphin's Figure Of Speech burst through on the far side of the track and looked set to prevail, but Anjaal really found top gear on meeting the rising ground and thrust home to get up by a neck. Jallota was a head further back in third ahead of favourite Sir John Hawkins in fourth.

Hannon's Brown Sugar and the Richard Fahey-trained Canyari both disappointed.

Hanagan said: "He was very green on his first run and was a lot more relaxed today. He took forever to get going, he'll probably get a bit further. He has a great temperament.

"He really did stick his neck out when he needed to. He couldn't have done any more for me."

Assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr said: "We gave him a nice break after his second run when he won at Beverley and he's done very well for it. He looked there like he needs seven furlongs, which will be a big help.

"We'll have to look at the Dewhurst Stakes and things like that. We'll definitely step him up to seven furlongs. He was the first off the bridle there."

Portland Place Properties July Stakes (Group 2)
£80,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good to Firm (Watered)