Racing: Soft ground gives Fiorente spring in his step

Fiorente was yet another of those potentially smart middle-distance horses which are always notable if remaining in Stoute’s care after their Classic season,  although he arrived at this Group Two event with a point to prove. A winner of just a maiden from seven starts and well behind stablemate Sea Moon in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, the 11-2 shot thrived in the soft ground to finish two and three-quarter lengths in front of Joshua Tree.

“He just hasn’t been firing,” said Stoute, who indicated his charge could be effective dropped back to a mile and a quarter. We tried cheekpieces last time, I was reluctant to do it but we did because we were getting a little bit anxious. Anyhow he has vindicated himself today.

“He had an injury and was off for a long time, from the Gordon Stakes to the Jockey Club, and I excused him the first time as he got tired in testing ground. He’s a horse I have always held in high esteem but had a couple of disappointments and I haven’t made any plans for him at all.”

It was a race billed in some quarters as an Emirates Melbourne Cup trial, with 2-1 favourite Harris Tweed leading until the last couple of furlongs before fading to fourth, and 2011 Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux plugging on for third.

Richard Hannon and Paul Hanagan shared their first Group successes for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum together after a gritty display from Alhebayeb (9-2) in the TNT July Stakes. Both trainer and jockey have joined the Sheikh’s roster this season and the Dark Angel colt could provide a bit of much-needed star quality to a slightly jaded operation. The Windsor Castle Stakes runner-up had to fight to regain his lead and only survived by a neck at the line with outsider Lewisham coming with a late rattle. Hanagan ended a good day with a winner for his old boss, Richard Fahey, as Jedward (13-2) held on from the fast-finishing Pearl Blue in the Egerton House Stables Handicap.

Meanwhile, Perth’s meeting on Sunday needs to pass an 8am inspection this morning. The course is currently unraceable but three dry days are forecast. Clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: “We’ll look tomorrow at 8am. The rain has stopped today but we had 21mm yesterday and 14mm the day before that, on top of saturated ground. We are currently unraceable and it is not drying today. We’ll have a look tomorrow and, if there’s a chance, we’ll probably have a look before racing.”

SELECTIONS

Newmarket

1.20 Perfect Step

1.50 Piri Wango

2.25 City Image (nap)

3.00 Alanza (NB)

3.35 Afonso De Sousa

4.10 Marshgate Lane

5.20 Halling’s Comet

Newbury

1.40 Elegant In Silk

2.15 Montiridge

2.50 The Giving Tree

3.25 Euxton Hall

4.00 Superior Edge

4.35 Little Rocky

5.10 Henry San

York

2.05 Miss You Too

2.35 Boastful

3.10 The Sixties

3.45 The Fun Crusher

4.20 Ancient Cross

4.55 Dubai Prince

5.30 Dutch Rose

Chepstow

5.50 Spring Secret

6.20 Mrs Brown’s Boy

6.50 Autumn Fire

7.25 Croeso Mawr

8.00 Flaxen Flare

8.30 Rocky Reef

9.00 One Last Dream

Chester

6.00 Hayek

6.30 Rockme Cockney

7.05 Jwala

7.40 Lady Ibrox

8.10 Tidal Way

8.40 Pearl Noir

9.10 Party Line.