Archie Watson’s accelerated rise through the trainers’ ranks passed another significant milestone here on Friday as Soldier’s Call showed exceptional speed to win from the front in the Flying Childers Stakes. It was the Lambourn trainer’s first success at Group Two level, in his second full season with a licence, and Soldier’s Call could now have two chances to register a first Group One win for Watson over the closing months of the season.
Few trainers manage to reach 50 winners in their first full season, but having done so with something to spare in 2017, Watson is now well on the way to a century of winners in 2018. He is also off the mark at Royal Ascot, thanks to Soldier’s Call’s success in the Windsor Castle Stakes in June, and will look towards Arc day in Paris and the Breeders’ Cup at Louisville as he plots the remainder of the colt’s juvenile programme.
Soldier’s Call is quoted at around 10-1 to make the most of the generous weight concessions for juveniles in the Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc day. The race that could be tailor-made for him, however, is a new event at the Breeders’ Cup, the Juvenile Turf Sprint, over five and a half furlongs.
The latest addition to the Breeders’ Cup programme is the result of an upgrade to a race on the undercard last season, and Watson may even have played a part in securing its promotion after saddling Corinthia Knight to finish fourth at Del Mar last year.
“It’s five and a half around a bend and I’ve always felt that it would suit the English-type horses, especially with his running style,” Watson said. “He’s got quite a round action for such a quick horse and I don’t think any ground will bother him.
“We were beaten by three other Europeans last year and a load of us wrote letters to the Breeders’ Cup to try to get the race upgraded. We were pleased when it was, but then it was a case of trying to get a horse good enough to go there, and I’m delighted we’ve got one that hopefully will be.”
The final stages of the Doncaster Cup bore a passing resemblance to a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse, as Thomas Hobson overhauled Max Dynamite to seal a 1-2 for Willie Mullins and the pink colours of his major owner, Rich Ricci. The pair finished seven lengths clear of Sheikhzayedroad in third and one or both could yet form part of Mullins’s assault on the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Park in early November.
Doncaster’s only Group One event for juveniles, run since 1989 as the Racing Post Trophy, will have a new name from this year after the sport’s trade paper decided to allow its sponsorship to lapse.
Vertem, a stockbroker founded by the racehorse owner John Dance, has signed a five-year sponsorship deal to run the race as the Vertem Futurity Trophy.
Chester 1.30 Axel Jacklin 2.05 Night Of Glory 2.40 Mountain Bell 3.15 Rockin Roy 3.55 Madrinho 4.30 Redgrave 5.05 Cornborough
Chelmsford 1.40 Irene May 2.15 Chagatai 2.50 Private View 3.25 Fennaan 4.00 Duchess Of Avon 4.35 Global Art 5.10 Masters Apprentice
Doncaster 1.50 Encrypted 2.25 Mustashry (nap) 3.00 Phoenix Of Spain 3.35 Lah Ti Dar 4.10 Nathless 4.45 Fire Brigade (nb) 5.55 Dubawi Prince
Bath 2.00 Al Wafi 2.35 Fantasy Justifier 3.10 Time Stands Still 3.45 Vj Day 4.20 Daira Prince 5.00 Sophosc 5.35 Watheeqa 6.10 Here’s Alice
Musselburgh 2.55 Blame Roberta 3.30 Frosted Lass 4.05 Whatsthemessage 4.40 Rose Tinted Spirit 5.15 Artarmon 5.45 Texas Radio 6.20 Polyphony 6.55 Astrophysics
Lingfield 1.55 Fortune And Glory 2.30 Dinastia 3.05 Salateen 3.40 Burford Brown 4.15 Awesome 4.50 Bright Saffron 5.30 Voluminous
