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Belardo strikes to give Godolphin another Lockinge

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Belardo (Andrea Atzeni) wins the Lockinge

Belardo pulling clear for Andrea Atzeni to win the Lockinge

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

 By Peter Scargill 4:00PM 14 MAY 2016 

Report: Newbury, Saturday

Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) 1m, 4yo+

BELARDO gave Godolphin back-to-back successes in the Lockinge Stakes as he pounced late to beat the resolute Euro Charline with Endless Drama third on his first start for nearly a year.

Having debated at length over running Limato, Henry Candy gave the thumbs up to run after walking the course and punters took the hint by smashing the four-year-old into 11-4 favourite from 13-2 overnight.

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He raced towards the rear on his first start over a mile as Barchan made the pace from Toormore, with Euro Charline travelling smoothly in behind them.

Barchan folded a little earlier than James Doyle might have wanted on Toormore and he was left to make his own running in the final two furlongs, essentially becoming a sitting duck to the horses behind him with a sharper turn of foot.

They included Euro Charline, who came through to lead just outside the final furlong and kicked into a narrow lead as Limato flattened out, albeit after meeting some trouble, having travelled well into the race and finished fourth.

However, while the mare stuck her head down and gave her all, she was run down by the fast-finishing Belardo on the far side to give Godolphin, who co-own the winner with Prince Faisal, another success after the victory of Night Of Thunder last year.

Pressure performance

Winning trainer Roger Varian said: “He salvaged his year last year chasing home Solow at Ascot and that told us we needed to keep him in training this year.

“I’m delighted for his owners and they kept the faith in him. His work has always been outstanding at home and he deserved another big one.”

He added: “We want big horses in the yard and want to be running in the best races. If you have fancied runners in big races it comes with pressure but that’s the sort of pressure you want.”

Andrea Atzeni was riding Belardo for the first time since partnering the horse to success in the Dewhurst Stakes in 2014 and said: “It’s great. The last time I sat on his was in the Dewhurst and he’s a good horse on his day.

“I have to thank his owners for letting me ride him. They went quick and he travelled brilliantly. Once he got daylight he picked up well.”

Belardo (Andrea Atzeni,right) wins the Lockinge

Belardo (right) runs down Euro Charline (left) to win the Lockinge Stakes

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

Plans and questions to answer

Connections of the second and third were more than pleased with the efforts of their runners and are planning big future targets for them.

Marco Botti said of Euro Charline: “She ran a blinder. She’s tough and I think this is the best she’s been. I’ll speak to the team but we might take some time out and go for the Falmouth now. Hopefully later in the season the Breeders’ Cup would be the main target.”

Ger Lyon, trainer of Endless Drama, added: “You have to be delighted. The good news is he wants further, which we thought he’d get. The plan is Royal Ascot [for the Queen Anne] now but he won’t go on extremes and wouldn’t run if there is firm in the description. A stiff mile there will suit him.

“You’d like to think something like the Irish Champions Stakes later in the season would suit him.”

As for Limato, Candy was not able to answer his question about whether his horse truly stayed a mile or not.

He said: “I think if all our horses were flying, which they’re not at the moment, I’d have said he definitely didn’t get the trip. So not many questions answered. 

“He jumped well today and set off a bit more like a sprinter so there’s a lot of thinking to be done. I wouldn’t rule out coming back to six.”

 

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