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More Group One glory for Ballydoyle team

US Navy Flag ridden by Ryan Moore (right) wins the Darley July Cup Stakes during day three of The Moet & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket Racecourse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 14, 2018. See PA story RACING Newmarket. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Image: US Navy Flag wins the Darley July Cup at Newmarket

It was another Saturday to remember for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore at the weekend, with US Navy Flag and Kew Gardens providing the formidable combination with a Group One double.

Having failed to establish himself as a miler this season following defeats in the French and Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, US Navy Flag showed he is all about speed in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

Making a slick exit from stall 13, the 8-1 shot bounded into a lead he would not surrender, pulling out plenty to repel the late challenge of Brando by a length and three-quarters, to give O'Brien his fourth victory in the race and Moore his first.

O'Brien, who also saddled third-placed Fleet Review, said: "What he did last year was unbelievable and probably what threw us was that he was able to win a Dewhurst, but he nearly won an Irish 2000 Guineas so he is an unbelievable little horse to be doing that really. He has plenty of everything really."

Regarding future plans, O'Brien has earmarked a trip to Australia for a tilt at the Everest - the richest race in the world on turf - as the long-term target.

He said: "It is incredible really. We were hoping he would put in a performance today as we have our eye on that race in Australia, so I'd imagine he would have a little rest now as he has had a tough time, and be trained for that."

Kew Gardens, meanwhile, is set to run in the King George after capping a red-letter day for the Ballydoyle outfit in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp on Saturday evening.

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Successful over a mile and three-quarters in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, Kew Gardens boosted his claims for further middle-distance honours with a solid success returned to a mile and a half.

Betfair cut the Galileo colt to 6-1 for the King George and 7-2 for the St Leger.

Dee Ex Bee could not repeat his performance from Epsom, where he was second in the Derby, with Kew Gardens in ninth, but he rallied in the closing stages to finish third for the Mark Johnston stable.

Blue Point was sent off favourite for the July Cup, but failed to fire. However, his trainer Charlie Appleby still enjoyed a fine July Festival and ended it with a double, led by the smart-looking Quorto in the Superlative Stakes.

Appleby - who has been forced to rule his Derby hero Masar out for the season - said: "He showed plenty of gears and when you are talking about top-class horses, they should be showing that. Masar won over six furlongs and this horse broke his maiden over six as well.

"I think the National Stakes (at the Curragh) looks the logical place to go with him."

Euchen Glen is likely to bid for a famous York double next month following a dominant front-running victory in the 59th John Smith's Cup.

After being denied by a nose in the two-mile Northumberland Vase at Newcastle on his latest appearance, Jim Goldie's charge was back at a mile and a quarter for this #200,000 contest and jockey Alistair Rawlinson was intent on making it a good stamina test from the moment the stalls opened.

Euchen Glen bowled along merrily at the head of affairs and as he gradually raised the tempo, one by one his rivals began to feel the pinch.

It was clear halfway up the home straight that the chasing pack were struggling to bridge the gap and Goldie's 20-1 shot passed the post two and a quarter lengths clear of Thundering Blue, with Kynren third.

Goldie is eyeing a return to York for next month's Sky Bet Ebor.

"He's a fair horse and although he's been running over further, I always had it at the back of my mind he could do something like that," said the Scottish trainer.

"We were going to sidestep this and go for a two-mile race at Newbury next week, but I said to the owners we'd have a look and the more we looked the more we liked the look of it."

It was a timely winner for 26-year-old Rawlinson, who welcomed a son into the world little over two weeks ago.

He said: "I had a lot of faith in what Jim told me and it worked out really well.

"We felt coming back in trip wouldn't be a problem and in fairness they've let me at it in front.

"I've won the Scottish Sprint Cup twice, but this is the most valuable race I've won, which is nice, as it will help pay for the nappies!"

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