Workforce puts in a shift to win easily at Sandown

Racing on rain-softened ground, Ryan Moore on the even-money favourite was happy to sit off what looked a stiff pace set by the enterprisingly-ridden Poet, who was a long way clear of the pack at one stage.

Clive Cox's Poet still held an advantage two out and, while Workforce soon picked him up when asked with Moore using his stick just once, he had to battle fairly hard to finally get the better of the argument by a length at the line, the pair 11 lengths clear of Jan Vermeer in third.

Winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute said of the Khalid Abdullah-owned colt: "I was very pleased. He has taken a lot of getting fit this time around because he has developed so much. I was delighted to get him here tonight on ground he enjoys.

"I was a little concerned when they turned in, but he did it well in the end. I really want to give it a lot of thought (future plans) and have a sit down with Ryan first of all.

"I'm sure Prince Khalid would like to be informed of our thinking so there's no rush."

Moore, who declined to be drawn on comparisons with Aidan O'Brien's So You Think, said: "He was a little bit sleepy in the stalls and the race was a bit messy, but I never felt like he was going to get beaten at any stage.

"He made up the ground very easily on Poet, then had a bit of a look around and I had to give him a smack. He's a bit bigger but his character hasn't changed. He has always felt like a horse with more to come, nothing has been asked at home and we didn't ask an awful lot more tonight."

Stoute was soon back in the winner's enclosure through Tazahum in the Charles Heidsieck Champagne Heron Stakes.

All five runners were still in contention late in the day but it was Fury and Tazahum that flashed past the post virtually together, with the former appearing to have done enough at first glance.

However, the photo-finish quickly revealed it was much closer than initial impressions suggested and Tazahum (5-2) that got the nod by the minimum margin over the 2000 Guineas fifth, who went off the 7-4 market leader.

Blue Bajan (4-1) confirmed his new lease of life and earned a possible Gold Cup tilt as he claimed the Charles Heidsieck Champagne Henry II Stakes.

An unlucky sixth in the Chester Cup on his first run for over a year and then second in the Yorkshire Cup, the nine-year-old was giving up-and-coming trainer David O'Meara his biggest career success, a comment which also applies to rider Danny Tudhope.Held up early and always travelling well as last year's winner Akmal gave way, Tudhope had every move covered inside the final quarter-mile as the field came over to the stands side.

Holberg made smooth progress to the turn for home and, while he had every chance for Frankie Dettori, the 6-4 favourite had to settle for third as Montaff stayed on to chase the winner home, two and a lengths in arrears.

O'Meara, who has only held a licence since 12 June last year, said: "He had been off a long time and finished like a train in the Chester Cup and ran so well in the Yorkshire Cup, but I was a bit worried I was running him back a bit quick. This is better than ever. He looks like one of the better stayers in the country now and the owner Dr Hollowood said tongue in cheek we'd think about supplementing for the Gold Cup if he ran well."

Hollowood added: "It's a lot of money (25,000) to supplement and we'll let this sink in and have a think, but he might deserve a shot."

Pyman's Theory, trained by the in-form Tom Dascombe and part-owned by Manchester United striker Michael Owen, could also be on the way to Ascot after making every yard in the Piper Heidsieck Champagne National Stakes.

Not beaten far when fifth to the classy Miss Work Of Art at York, Richard Kingscote's mount stretched clear inside the final furlong and while Bannock markedly closed the gap at the line, the 12-1 winner always had matters in hand for a three-quarter-length success."

The flop of the race was the favourite Magic City, who is becoming expensive to follow, and has failed to win since Sir Alex Ferguson paid for a share in him.