Tough Sudirman takes command

Sudirman gave trainer David Wachman his second Keeneland Phoenix Stakes success when confirming his Railway Stakes superiority over Big Time in the Group 1 feature at the Curragh yesterday.

In a race which saw Aidan O’Brien’s odds-on favourite War Command, impressive winner of Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes, finish only third, Wayne Lordan seized the initiative on Sudirman with a furlong and a half to race and the son of Henrythenavigator ran on well to keep his persistent rival at bay by a half-length (a carbon copy of their Railway Stakes clash), with the 2/5 favourite a similar distance away third.

Trainer Wachman, who won the Phoenix back in 2004 with Damson, commented: “He’s a good, tough horse. He idles in front, but keeps finding. Wayne said there was plenty in the tank. I’m really delighted for Wayne — he’s been waiting for a while for a horse like this.