EYES scanned the pre-parade ring and the main ring. Was the legend there? Had he flown over from Ireland?
Sadly, no. Aidan O'Brien remained at Ballydoyle to view The Parthenon's run in the afternoon Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury on television in favour of attending another listed race just down the road at Gowran Park's evening card.
A wise decision it transpired. Ryan Moore kept the Kingman colt close to pacemaking New Century but when push became shove about two furlongs out, he quickly dropped out of contention, and the shadowing Luther loomed ominously on the outside, but just as the outsider threatened to cause an upset, New Century gradually drew clear.
"Very difficult to make the running in a three horse race," declared Andrew Balding, playfully laughing off suggestions the £22,000 plus prize money might be the catalyst for an autumnal charge at the trainers championship, knowing O'Brien is on the threshold of smashing the £5m barrier and is £2m clear of his rival. "If I can finish in the top five, great."
Of New Century, who might be aimed at the Royal Lodge Stakes next month, he said: "He is a straightforward horse like his dad (Kameko who he trained). He has been a slow learner but at this stage he is ahead what his dad had done."
One horse that might be heading in the opposite direction with a trip to Ireland is Nascimento who had been given time to recover from his unplaced effort in the Coventry Stakes at the royal meeting in June.
Relishing the drop in grade, he ran out comfortable winner of the six furlong maiden. "He did it easily," said Jamie Spencer of the two-year-old who holds an entry in the Goffs Million at the Curragh next month. "He had the form to go and do it and it's what expected. He's a smart horse who has always worked very well."
Veteran Henry Candy has endured a painful 2024 and only saddled his second winner of the term when the totally unconsidered High Spirited sprang a 50/1 shock in the other listed race, the Upavon Fillies Stakes. The classic generation had held sway for the last ten years and Rainbow Edge did best of the three-year-olds but was firmly put in place by High Spirited, a hitherto maiden.
A notorious slow started, she only had to remain in the stalls for just a few seconds and by halfway had taken the lead which she never surrendered.
"Don't be embarrassed about going round the outside," was Candy's instructions to Trevor Whelan. "She loved it. It has been the worst of seasons for me but this has always been a lucky race for me."
One journo quipped: "That's goodbye to class four handicaps." Candy smiled, "Absolutely but I have not given any thought about where she will go now."
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