MORANDO inflicted a rare defeat on an Aidan O’Brien-trained runner when romping to victory in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes.
Ballydoyle’s St Leger hero Kew Gardens was sent off a hot 4-5 favourite for the one-mile, five-furlong feature, which honours the great Triple Crown winner of 1885.
But he had no answers when the Andrew Balding-saddled Morando, tackling the trip for the first time and relishing the rain-softened racing surface, sent to the front under champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa on the run to the final quarter mile.
At the winning post, 3-1 chance Morando had eight lengths to spare over the favourite, who got up close home to deny last year’s Chester Cup winner Magic Circle for second.
“Andrew’s horses are running in top form and he enjoyed the ground,” said de Sousa. “The trip was really suitable for him, but the key to his fellow was the ground.
We would keep up to that trip - a mile and six - and I’d say that if he gets the ground he will deliver again."
