Dunaden At Overbury Jockey Club Stakes |
|
| Group 2, Newmarket 15.05 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1  |
|
| Saturday 2nd May 2015 | |
1 Second Step 7/1
2 Telescope 8/13F
3 Pether's Moon 11/4
4 ran Distances: hd, 18l, 3l
TIME 2m 32.37s (slow by 4.37s)
Second Step edges out hot favourite Telescope to claim Group Two glory
 |
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Telescope, who was placed at the highest level on more than one occasion last term, including when second to Taghrooda in the King George, was sent off the 8-13 favourite to land this 12-furlong heat.
Tucked in behind in third of the four runners, all appeared to be going to plan as Ryan Moore let him s tride to the front in impressive style with two furlongs to run, but Second Step (7-1) followed him through and chased him down in the final furlong to score by a head.
The pair finished well clear of Pether's Moon, with the pacesetting Odeon last of four.
A triumphant Andrea Atzeni said: "He was always going to end up being a Group horse this year. When Ryan quickened he took two lengths out of me, but when I hit the rising ground I was always going to get there in the end.
"We went a nice gallop - Mr (Luca) Cumani's always improve with age."
Cumani said: "I wouldn't have considered this race if there had been an easier option, but there wasn't one.
"I thought Andrea rode him with confidence, and that if the others picked each other off the pieces may come together in the end.
"We'll have to see, but maybe (we will look at) something like the Hardwicke Stakes (at Royal Ascot). It's never a good idea to make plans on the spur of the moment though."
Asked about a potential Melbourne Cup bid, Cumani added: " The Melbourne Cup could be a possibility, but it remains to be seen if he'll get two miles and it's a long way away."
 |
Stoute is eyeing a return trip to Royal Ascot for Telescope, who won the Hardwicke last year.
He said: " It would have been nice if he'd have won, but he never runs a bad race. We'll take it step by step and I think we'll go back to Royal Ascot for the Hardwicke."
Dunaden At Overbury Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2)
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Good to Firm (Watered)
| Pos | Draw | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (3) | Second Step (IRE) 7/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-0 |
L M Cumani | 4 | |
| 2nd | (2) | hd | Telescope (IRE) 8/13f | R L Moore 9-0 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 5 |
| 3rd | (4) | 18 | Pether's Moon (IRE) 11/4 | R Hughes 9-3 |
R Hannon | 5 |
| 4th | (1) | 3 | Odeon 16/1 | G Lee 9-0 |
J G Given | 4 |
