Brave Echo takes spoils at Leicester
Brave Echo reaped the benefit of a promising debut to open his account in division one of the EBF Reference Point Maiden Stakes at Leicester today.
The well-backed 2-1 favourite, seventh at Newmarket last month, got the better of Godolphin's Emirates Roadshow inside the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length.
John Gosden's good-looking colt was always prominent in the hands of Richard Mullen, who was deputising for the suspended Jimmy Fortune.
The first two pulled six lengths clear of the third horse, Takeover Bid.
"Two furlongs out, you'd have thought he was beaten," said Gosden's representative, Les Reynolds.
"But Richard gave him time and once he hit the rising ground, he got going.
"He looks to have a nice future."
Godolphin and jockey Frankie Dettori also settled for second place with Al Marmoom, who finished two and a quarter lengths in arrears of Box Office (7-1) in division two.
Royston Ffrench's mount was continuing the fine run of Mark Johnston's two-year-olds as he drew clear of the odds-on favourite inside the closing stages.
"Royston said that when we got tackled by the Godolphin horse he put his head down, knuckled down and did it in a professional manner," said Johnston's representative Justin Buckham.
"First time out at Hamilton he missed the break and ran a bit green.
"Then he ran up at Ayr. It was heavy ground and it might not have been in his favour, but it was good ground this time and he's done it really well."
Brighton trainer Gary Moore struck with his only runner at the east Midlands track as Singleb, ridden by his son Ryan, was a comfortable winner of the Whissendine Selling Stakes.
The writing was on the wall once the 15-8 favourite went on just over two furlongs out and he stayed on strongly to hold Blue Charm by two and a half lengths.
There was plenty of interest at the subsequent auction and connections had to go to 10,000 guineas to retain the four-year-old gelding.
"This is his level. He's a nice, fun horse and he'll probably win again," said Moore's travelling head lad, Terry Sergeant.
