Ballad strikes winning note

Moon Ballad remains down Godolphin’s pecking order for the Vodafone Derby - despite winning one of its most important trials, the Convergent Dante Stakes, at York today.

Jamie Spencer made every yard aboard the 11-2 chance in the Group Two contest and, despite Bollin Eric and Balakheri doing their best to close on the leader, Moon Ballad still had a length and a quarter in hand at the post.