Donegal secures Bahrain spoils

Andrew Balding’s Donegal put himself in the shop window with a game victory in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

The Listed contest is considered an early trial for the Ladbrokes St Leger but the Doncaster Classic is not likely to be on the agenda for the 16-1 winner.

It developed into a four-way blanket finish, with William Buick driving Donegal home a neck and the same ahead of Gravitation and even-money favourite Bouguereau.

“Although his record overall looks disappointing, he’s only had soft ground twice and both times he has won,” said Balding.

“He’s a gelding and I expect I will get offers for him to go jumping, so I don’t know where he will go.”

Classic Blade (6-1) provided Tom Dascombe with the biggest success of his career in the TNT July Stakes.

The Daggers Drawn colt made every yard of the running under Richard Kingscote and showed great tenacity to hold off the late challenge of Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Sayif by a short head.

The 2-1 favourite Prolific ran on to claim third.

It was a first Group winner for both the winning trainer and jockey.