Shadow Of Light made short work of his rivals to register a superb success in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket; the Godolphin colt went clear of Whistlejacket to land the Group One on the Rowley Mile, despite having been at the back of the field early on
Saturday 28 September 2024 16:37, UK
Shadow Of Light made short work of his rivals to register a superb success in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Lope De Vega was second favourite in the betting behind Whistlejacket on the back of two wins and a staying-on second in the Gimcrack at York.
Godolphin's 11-4 chance was ridden by William Buick for the Group One and settled at the back of the field of six early on.
While others made the running, he was always well placed and two furlongs from home eased his way into the lead to then canter to a wide-margin victory, beating odds-on market leader Whistlejacket by four lengths.
Shadow Of Light was cut to 10-1 from 33-1 with Paddy Power for the 2000 Guineas and is also 6-1 favourite for the Commonwealth Cup with Coral.
Appleby said: "I wouldn't have said he was unlucky in the Gimcrack by any stretch but we all know it is a big step up to that level and he learned plenty from there.
"As a physical, he has maintained it, but mentally he jumped forward so much from that run and we came here quietly confident today.
"You could say, 'Why did you have him in the Mill Reef last week and pull him out?' Well we pulled him out because of the heavy ground, and at the time I just thought we'd be confident coming here today with the favourite to beat, but last week we'd have been an absolute certainty on sensible ground.
"When the ground started drying out, we felt it suited us more than the favourite to be honest."
He went on: "Aidan (O'Brien) has dominated this year but they've got strength in depth, as you would expect for an operation like that. But we've punched our weight.
"People might say we've been abroad a lot but that is only because I felt that is where those horses would be competitive. I'll go where I think I can win, I don't want to go anywhere just to make up the numbers and please everyone else.
"I read the focus might be coming off the UK but of course it's not. If I've got the horses to win here, I'd rather win here.
"It's less travelling for me and the horses, but if we have to go further afield to do a job, that is what we'll do. But I'm pleased with the way we are finishing the season off.
"We've got some nice two-year-olds, which is what you want going into next year, and hopefully a few of the three-year-olds, like Ancient Wisdom and Arabian Crown, will be nice horses to campaign next year in England."
O'Brien said of the beaten favourite: "He's a very fast horse and Ryan (Moore) just felt that he could have done with going a bit faster in the first half of the race.
"He's very consistent and there's a possibility we might look to take him to America now."
Liberty Lane surged to a decisive victory in the bet365 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.
Just like last year's victor Astro King, he made light of carrying a welter burden of 9st 12lb to dominate the prestigious handicap.
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the bay started at 8-1 in a field of 31 for the valuable nine-furlong contest.
He stuck with the group on the outer rail and as the race progressed, it was clear he was on the right side, as he gained ground continually to secure a clear success, coming home two and a half lengths ahead of James McHenry.
It capped a memorable seven days for Burke, who saddled the first three home in last week's Ayr Gold Cup, with Lee winning on Lethal Levi.
Burke said: "He needs conditions in his favour, which they were today, and he needs a target to aim at, which he had in Balmacara, who went forward, so we were happy with the draw.
"He had horses around him but I was a little bit concerned at halfway when the camera angle changed and it looked like we had a length or two to make up, but he's got a few gears.
"I think I'd have been happier if he'd had a lead for longer, but Cliff said he was going so well he was happy to kick on, he was in a lovely rhythm, as in his early days he could be a bit keen.
"I ran him in the Dante and he ran too free but he still led them to the furlong pole that day and there were some high-class horses in that race. He's always been a very good horse and he's just getting his act together now.
"He ran very well at Doncaster last time out and I was a bit worried this race was coming a week too soon but he's just come right at the right time.
"There's no plans, I'll talk to his owner, there might be something abroad, I don't know."
Lee said: "He's done it very well. We were concerned as his last run was only two weeks ago but that probably just took the freshness out of him.
"He's done it very easy, we knew he was fit and it suited him very well today.
"We've always thought he'd be a Listed or a Group Three horse and he can have his time again."
