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14:15 Chester

Melodi Media Huxley Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)

  • 4 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f 70y
  • Going: Good to Soft
  • Surface: Turf
  • £100,000 added
  • Winner: £56,710
  • 2nd: £21,500
  • 3rd: £10,760
  • 4th: £5,360
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 11.64s
  • Off Time: 14:17:12
  • 4 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Armory (IRE)

6/5

    1(3)
    Silk - Dark Blue

    Armory (IRE)

    195 D
    6/5
    • Form 2/44132-
    • Age 4
    • Weight 9-1
    • Official Rating 120

    close up in 4th, wide and headway to lead inside final furlong, ran on, comfortable

    2(2)
    Silk - Royal blue, white hoop, striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue star

    Bangkok (IRE)

    35 t D
    7/2
    • Form 92-2181
    • Age 5
    • Weight 9-1
    • Official Rating 111

    keen, raced wide tracked leader, pushed along 2f out, ridden and faded inside final furlong

    3(4)
    Silk - Royal blue, purple chevron, purple cap

    Palavecino (FR)

    35 h DCD
    11/1
    • Form 19234-2
    • Age 5
    • Weight 9-1
    • Official Rating 109

    headway to lead after 1f, set steady pace, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish

    4(1)
    Silk - Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves

    Sangarius

    139 t D
    11/5
    • Form 1431/41-
    • Age 5
    • Weight 9-1
    • Official Rating 114

    led 1f, tracked leaders, pushed along and short of room 2f out, effort between horses entering final furlong, went 2nd towards finish

    5(5)
    NR

    Bharani Star (GER)

    260
    33/1
    • Form 54/1468-
    • Age 4
    • Weight 8-12
    • Official Rating 97

    NonRunner

    In depth

    Verdict

    Sir Michael Stoute farmed this Group 2 in the Noughties and also won it with Cannock Chase in 2016. Aidan O’Brien has won it twice in the last 10 years and both trainers have leading fancies this year. Sangarius represents the former and he edged out Bangkok in a Listed race at Lingfield in December with Palavecino back in fourth. That was a solid return to action and a first victory since landing the Group 3 Hampton Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2019 but ARMORY had winning form at this level as a two-year-old and is just preferred. He won a Group 3 at the Curragh last season and later placed in both the Irish Champion Stakes and the Cox Plate in Australia so probably has the stronger overall form. The filly Bharani Star would be a surprise winner.

    Formwatch

    Armory (IRE) (8-13) 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Sir Dragonet (9-4) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Oct.

    Bangkok (IRE) 5-6fav (9-5) Close up, switched wide 3f out, headway approaching final 2f, pushed along inside final furlong, ridden to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Apr beating Palavecino (9-5) by nk, 6 ran.

    Palavecino (FR) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Bangkok (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Apr.

    Sangarius 5-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along to chase leader 2f out, ridden to join leader inside final furlong, led towards finish, soon edged right, won at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Dec beating Bangkok (9-8) by ns, 8 ran.

    Bharani Star (GER) 14-1 (8-12) Always behind, never a factor, 8th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Gold Wand (8-12) at York 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gd in Aug.