Ryan and Callan hit jackpot as Wolf keeps rivals at bay
The trainer and his jockey have formed a highly-successful partnership over the last two years and this Group One win was the icing on the cake for the duo.
Ryan, who is enjoying his best season with 69 winners, has always held Amadeus Wolf in high regard and nominated this contest as his next target after his fine win in the Gimcrack Stakes at York in August.
On that occasion he defeated Red Clubs by a length and a half when he was in receipt of 5lb from the runner-up, and it was Barry Hills’ youngster who once again proved the main threat to Ryan’s charge.
The field was reduced to six following the withdrawals of Art Museum with a vets certificate, Classic Encounter due to the rain-softened ground and Guest Connections, who was unruly in the stalls.
Once under way it was Always Hopeful who took them along at a good clip, chased by Amadeus Wolf and Red Clubs with the slow-starting 2-1 favourite Ivan Denisovich towards the rear.
Callan always appeared confident on the winner and he booted the 4-1 shot into the lead over a furlong out.
He was strongly pressed by Red Clubs but ultimately he proved too strong and landed the £98,600 first prize by a length and a quarter from his old rival.
Always Hopeful was a further two lengths back in third, with Ivan Denisovich next followed by Prince Of Light and Johnny Alpha.
The win earned Amadeus Wolf quotes for the 2000 Guineas ranging from 20-1 with totesport to 33-1 with William Hill, and Ryan is keen to have a crack at the Classic back at Newmarket next spring.
He said: “You have to give the Guineas a go and he won’t run again this year. He’s bred to get the mile.
“He’s learned how to race properly, he’s learned to relax and you can put him anywhere in a race now. In his first couple of runs he was trying to do everything too quickly.
“We’ll have to have a go at the Guineas and if he doesn’t stay he doesn’t stay, but my gut feeling is he will stay. I have never had a Classic runner before and to get a horse like this is unbelievable.”
Rob Roy’s disappointing year was given some belated lustre as he set the record straight in the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London Joel Stakes.
Sent off the second-favourite for the 2000 Guineas in May on the strength of reputation as much as his form, the Michael Stoute-trained colt finished stone last of the 19 runners.
But having seen his charge return home with sore shins, Stoute successfully nursed Rob Roy back to full health and despite a slightly below-par return to action at Doncaster earlier in the month, he turned in a much-improved effort to take this Group Three prize.
Despite running slightly free in the early stages, the 17-2 chance quickened nicely in the final stages to account for Ancient World by three-quarters of a length.
“He ran dismally in the Guineas but he has done well to overcome that experience,” said jockey Mick Kinane.
“I think that a mile and a quarter might be his optimum trip next season.”
Stoute confirmed this would be Rob Roy’s final start of the season.
Munsef was the next winner to defy a lengthy absence from the track as he completed a hat-trick of victories when taking the Fishpools Furnishings Godolphin Stakes.
The winner of the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot at York on his latest start, the John Dunlop-trained son of Zafonic came back jarred up from that start with Dunlop blaming the “very suspect ground”.
But he has clearly suffered no ill-effects from his three-month spell on the sidelines and made steady headway from the three-furlong pole to lead inside the final furlong and claim the Listed prize by a length and a quarter from Defining.
Favourite Into The Dark led until the final quarter-mile but faded close home to finish fifth, beaten some 10 lengths by the winner.
