Friday 31st May
Qatar Racing enjoyed a Listed success when Evade (10-1) came out on top in the Aston Martin Surrey Stakes, The three-year-old Wootton Bassett colt, who was making his first appearance of 2024 and partnered by Oisin Murphy, got the better of Native American by a short-head.
Oisin Murphy said: “It was very good training by Archie and the horse clearly has a big engine. Hopefully, he'll come forward too. I know the Oaks winner came from behind, but I think the track is suiting horses who are on the pace and it probably played to his advantage.
“He's very difficult at home but Michael Murphy, the ex-jockey who won on Battaash at Bath, has done a great job on him.”
David Revers, Racing Manager to Qatar Racing, said: “He’s a very talented horse, Evade. Bred at Monceau, trained initially by Andre Fabre. There was some question about him running a bit free last year at the end of his two-year-old career. Sheikh Fahad decided he needed to come to England where there would be more pace on in the races.
“What he doesn’t enjoy is sitting in a typical French crawling sprint, so it was a very good call by the boss. Archie has done an outstanding job. He’s got the horse to settle, he’s got him fit and ready - I think there will be plenty of improvement as well. We had big hopes - it’s a rare thing for me to back a Qatar horse, but I backed him today because he was a ridiculous price.
“He’ll go to the Jersey Stakes now, and hopefully he’s back on track. British racing suits him - he needs an end-to-end gallop so he can settle, rather than fight against a slow pace. I don’t think it would matter if the ground was rocket-fast or slower - I don’t think the ground is an issue.”
Asked about Oisin Murphy, Redvers replied, “He’s the best, isn’t he?”
Richard Fahey, trainer of runner-up Native American, said: “He's run a good race and we'll probably run him in the Jersey now. This is his trip, but he maybe wants a bit of headgear to sharpen him up.”
The concluding Molson Coors Handicap over seven furlongs went to Rhoscolyn (9-1), who defied top-weight of 10st 2lbs to win by a length and three quarters under James Doyle.
James Doyle said: “It's been a it and miss sort of day (two very close seconds for Wathnan and Treasure disappointing in Oaks) but that's the way it goes. I rode Rhoscolyn when he won this race in similar conditions a few years ago.
“He was good there as we didn't get much luck. The Horse Watchers' other horse Baldomero got a flat tyre about three out and I was stuck behind him. There were two horses in one spot for a couple of strides and I just had to be patient, but when it opened up he picked up well.
“He's a smart horse and this is his bag - seven furlongs, nice draw, and sitting close behind a hot pace. Everything was perfect for him today.”
Winning trainer David O’Meara added: “It looked for a long way like he was getting some traffic problems, but he’s best on a track like this, like a Goodwood or Epsom seven furlongs, a bit of ease in the ground, downhill over seven furlongs sort of brings out the best in him.
“James said once he got out he was very strong to the line. He’s a grand horse; he wants a little bit of cut in the ground, and for ages we ran him over a mile thinking he was fine, and he wasn’t - holding him up to get the mile - but here and Goodwood over seven, and he ran well in a Buckingham Palace Stakes, actually. It’s great for the Dixon lads and their followers.
“We may well go back to the Buckingham Palace - I will see what Chris and Martin (Dixon, owners) want to do.”
