Benvenuto Cellini strengthened his position as Derby favourite with a dominant victory in the Boodles Chester Vase.
A dual winner last season before picking up the bronze medal as part of an Aidan O’Brien-trained one-two-three in Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy, the flashy chestnut was the 2-9 favourite for his reappearance in a race the Ballydoyle handler won for an 11th time with subsequent Epsom hero Lambourn 12 months ago.
With his stablemate Proposition going flat out in front, Benvenuto Cellini was able to relax in midfield under Ryan Moore before being allowed to move onto the leader’s tail as he rounded the home turn and he quickly went through the gears once fully given his head, pulling four and a quarter lengths clear in impressive style.
Moore said: “He’s got a lovely pedigree and had good form last year. It’s nice to get him over a mile and a half and get a fresh start with him.
“The race was a little disjointed with the horse taking back for second, but he quickened up well from the four (furlong) to the three before getting a little tired in the straight. He will come on for this and I’m very happy.”
It was the first time Moore has linked up with the winner in racecourse action and he added: “I’ve sat on him a bit before (at home) and he’s a quality colt.
“He was a good winner for Christophe (Soumillon) at Leopardstown and then didn’t like the bad ground at Doncaster. This was nice carrying a penalty which is not always easy, so I thought it was a good performance.
“I’m not sure where he would be in the order right now. We have a couple of more horses to see and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do before Aidan makes his plan.”
Benvenuto Cellini was cut to 9-4 market leader for the Derby with race sponsors Betfred and is now certain to line up on the Surrey Downs in a bid to replicate Lambourn.
Amelia Earhart foils I’m The One in Cheshire Oaks
Amelia Earhart beats I’m The One in the Cheshire Oaks
Amelia Earhart proved too strong for the well-touted I’m The One in giving Aidan O’Brien a 10th victory in the Weatherbys Cheshire Oaks.
I’m The One had looked the next superstar filly off the Clarehaven production line when making a winning debut at Newbury last month and she was the 6/5 favourite to cement her status as Epsom Oaks favourite in a race the Gosden team memorably won with the brilliant Enable nine years ago.
However, the market leader stumbled slightly at the start and did not look entirely in love with the track, whereas Amelia Earhart – fitted with the unusual combination of a hood and blinkers – travelled sweetly throughout in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Despite hanging right off the bend, I’m The One was still in the mix at the top of the straight but 13/8 shot Amelia Earhart powered home, with two lengths ultimately the winning margin.
An impressed Moore said: “We always thought she was a good filly and she’s by Camelot and from a family we know well.
“A mile and a half suited her, she handled the track and handled the ground and did everything right and gave me the perfect feel the whole way. It was the perfect Epsom trial.”
Adonius has Menzies dreaming of Ascot glory
Adonius was lightning quick in the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester
Rebecca Menzies can justifiably dream of Royal Ascot glory with Adonius after watching her speedy juvenile blitz his rivals from the front in the CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes.
Bought for £32,000 guineas as a yearling, the Soldier’s Call colt was a runaway winner on his Musselburgh debut in early April and returned to the Scottish track to defy a penalty just eight days later.
Conceding upwards of 5lb to each of his rivals over the flying five furlongs on the Roodee, Adonius (100/30) was quickly into his stride from stall one and had most of the chasing pack struggling to keep up as he set a furious pace at the head of affairs.
Hickory Lad and 7/5 favourite Wait Geordie tried to close the gap from the home turn, but the Menzies runner never really looked in any danger of being caught under Kaiya Fraser and passed the post with a length and a quarter in hand.
Menzies said: “I think we have to be thinking Royal Ascot now and every assignment we have given him, he’s just over-delivered each time.
“It was hard to know what we had, but he’s so professional and so quick out of the gates and at the moment Ascot is definitely on the agenda – he’s done nothing wrong has he?
“I think he’s all speed and five furlongs is his trip and there is the National Stakes at Sandown as well we could look at, but I think the owners are really keen to go to Ascot. They’re such an enthusiastic bunch and that win today will mean the world to them.
“Fair play to them for letting me keep him as there were offers that rolled in and he could easily have had a new postcode, but they have let me roll the dice.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
