Big plans for Imperial Stride after Newmarket win

Imperial Stride booked his return to the big time with a stylish victory in the 32Red.com September Stakes at Newmarket.

Much of the build-up to the Group Three contest was spent discussing the participation of star filly Ouija Board – and her absence when she was ruled out after coughing on Wednesday.

Indeed it would have been interesting to see how Ouija Board would have got on against the winner, who was winning his fourth race in a row.

Imperial Stride sauntered into the lead under Richard Hills two furlongs out and only had to be kept to his work to beat Mamool by a length and a quarter - the pair a massive 14 lengths clear of their rivals.

And trainer Michael Stoute confirmed in the winner’s enclosure that Imperial Stride will now be upped to Group One company, with the Dubai Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe among the possible options.

It will be his first run at Group One level since finishing sixth in the Dewhurst Stakes two seasons ago.

A useful two-year-old who was as highly-tried as he was well-regarded, Imperial Stride lost his way the following season but has returned to form in style this year.

And his defeat of Powerscourt in the Scottish Derby looks decent form after that horse’s impressive victory in the Arlington Million.

“He has just come back to what Michael always thought of him as a two-year-old,” said Joe Mercer, representing owner Saeed Suhail.

“I don’t know where we will go with him. We’ll have to talk to the trainer but there are plenty of options.”

Stoute added: “The Champion is obviously a big consideration but I don’t know yet where we will go. He travels well, he has a good turn of foot and he deserves to go for a Group One.”

Having seen Goodricke land the big race of the day at Haydock, David Loder completed a good day’s work when Primary took the Play Roulette at 32Red.com Conditions Stakes.

The favourite had to work hard but rallied well to get the better of Alhaitham by a short-head having been headed just over a furlong out.

With Loder retiring from training at the end of the season, the winning colt’s owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing will have to find a new handler for Primary next year.

And that may be the next time we see the son of Giant’s Causeway, with Loder reporting: “It will be up to the management of course, but it might not be the worst thing if he doesn’t race again this year because he has still got some growing to do and he is going to be a very nice horse next year.”

Prince Of Light bashed the bookmakers when he completed a hat-trick in the Group Three 32Red.com Sirenia Stakes.

The 10-11 favourite was taking a hike in grade having won a nursery on his previous start but was still the cornerstone of many a multiple bet for once-a-week punters.

Despite hanging left across the course in the final stages, the Joe Fanning-ridden winner had enough in hand to hold the late rush of 66-1 chance Ann Summers Gold by three-quarters of a length.

Prince Of Light’s sights are now set to be raised again with trainer Mark Johnston ready to take aim at the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes on September 30.

Given the way the Fantastic Light colt had hung, Johnston was hoping that such behaviour was strictly a one-off.

“I see he has got a little nick on his left hind and I wonder whether that was significant,” said the trainer. “He certainly hasn’t done anything like it before and considering the amount of ground he gave away he did well to win.

“I had agreed with the owner before the race that if he won then we would go for the Middle Park with him.

“He doesn’t look like a horse who would have as much speed as he does – he looks for all the world as if he will stay much further – but he has a lot of talent and he is improving.”

Mutamared left Kevin Ryan with a strong-looking hand in Wednesday’s totesport Portland Handicap after he defied a 78-day absence to land a gamble in the opener.

Well-backed in the betting offices during the morning, the gelding drifted out slightly on course, being returned the 4-1 favourite in the 32Red.com Handicap.

But after recovering from a slow start he always went well under Neil Callan, leading over a furlong out before being ridden out to hold the usual late charge of Kingscross by a head.

Ryan also has three-times Portland winner Halmahera engaged in the Doncaster race, who is offered at 10-1 by totesport.

The sponsors quote Mutamared at 14-1 after this victory, while Ashdown Express - third to Goodricke in the William Hill Sprint Cup at Haydock – is the new 7-1 favourite.

“I’m not sure if this horse (Mutamared) will run in the Portland,” said Ryan. “It’s quite a hot day today and he’s had a hard race so we’ll have to see how he is. But Halmahera definitely goes to try and win it again.”

So often the victim of the ire of trainers, there was some rare praise for a clerk of the course after Benedict took the 32Red.com Casino Handicap over the Bunbury Mile.

Winning trainer John Berry made a point of thanking Newmarket’s clerk Michael Prosser after Benedict had held the challenge of Prince Samos by a short-head.

Already a course and distance winner, Benedict had only been allowed to take his chance after Berry had walked the track before racing on Friday and again today.

“It was just perfect yesterday and although it had dried out a bit today after the sunny weather, I had no hesitation in letting Benedict run on it,” said Berry.

“They have done a great job on this course all summer and nobody could possibly complain about the ground today.”

Berry is weighing up a challenge at the Totesport Cambridgeshire for Benedict.

“He is still immature and he has now had six runs this season, so if we did go there then that would be his only other run this year,” the trainer said. “He’s a horse we want to look after.”

The sponsors offer 33-1 about the three-year-old, a son of 1997 Epsom Derby hero Benny The Dip.

Kerrin McEvoy showcased his skills in the saddle again when Bulwark responded to the Aussie’s tender touch to take the 32RedPoker.com Handicap for Amanda Perrett.