Coupe de Ville turns on the style

Richard Hannon went a long way to retaining his trainers’ championship title with the victory of Coupe De Ville in the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2yo Trophy at Newmarket.

The stylish success of the Clodovil colt (8-1), who quickened smartly to beat stablemate Tell Dad by a length, helped Hannon move well over £1 million clear of Sir Henry Cecil, who holds a number of big chances at Qipco Champions Day at Ascot on 15 October.

Mehdi attempted to make all and still led the field on the stands rail two from home, but was a further half-length back in third at the line.

Hannon, who bagged a total of £387,500 from the race, said: “Coupe De Ville had a tough race, he got badly hampered but it just proves that if you buy the right horse, then you can win these races.

“That will be it for the season for him, as he is an improving horse and I would like to save him for next year. Tell Dad was a good reserve in second.”

Samitar landed the big pot she richly deserved in the £300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2yo Fillies’ Trophy.

Winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot before missing out by a head in a similar event to this on the July course, Mick Channon’s filly had since been placed in both the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile.

The last-named race was just over a week ago, and the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar showed her tough constitution in racing handily throughout before digging in to see off Hazel Lavery by a length and a quarter, without Sam Hitchcott having to get overly serious. Channon’s son, also Mick, said of the 5-4 favourite: “We know the family well as we have trained many of her half-brothers and sisters – all of them thrive on racing.

“She is great as she is so versatile and can run from the front and the back, and Sam knows her well as he rides her at home, so he gave her a great race today. She looks the type to go for the Guineas next year.”

Meanwhile, at Ascot, Pastoral Player (17-2) earned a deserved trip to the winner’s enclosure with an excellent performance under Darryll Holland in the totescoop6 Challenge Cup. Since May, the four-year-old has finished third in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot and run creditable races in the Stewards’ Cup and the Ayr Gold Cup.

And everything fell right for Hughie Morrison’s gelding this time as he sat off a strong pace and came through stylishly at the finish.