For John and Thady Gosden, Sardinian Warrior, who was sent out at 5/1 on his first start since winning a remarkable all-weather handicap at Southwell in November, took the class step in stride to increase his winning streak to four. On his first turf start, Sardinian Warrior traveled nicely and took the lead from the waning Harper’s Ferry and Tyrrhenian Sea in the last several furlongs. Docklands put up a fierce fight against him in the last furlong, but he found plenty under Kieran Shoemark and managed to hold on. In third place, Checkandchallenge was four and a quarter lengths behind the front duo. “He’s a really talented horse,” Shoemark added. His first day was on the grass and it eked out some more improvement.
“I think he’ll improve a lot because he has a lot of talent and was almost ready for today’s outing. I believe he’s a reliable runner, but he might have been growing a little weary as I discovered Docklands just getting to me.” For the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, Sardinian Warrior was reduced to a top price of 10/1 and 14/1, respectively.
Coltrane is denied a Sagaro hat-trick by Yashin
After being purchased from Jessica Harrington’s yard for 80,000 guineas, Yashin, the 11/1 outsider of four, surprised everyone by defeating 4/6 favorite Coltrane in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes on his maiden run for Michael Bell. Everything appeared to be in order for Coltrane, who had won the the last two editions of the Sagaro Stakes, when he loomed up alongside the front-running Divine Comedy still going strongly.
But Yashin continued to find his way under Callum Shepherd, and he eventually drew ahead in the last furlong to win by a length. “He’s a new recruit to the yard and was well prepared for this,” the victorious rider stated. Coltrane set a really high bar, in my opinion, but maybe we were a little better that day. He was competitive when he reached Coltrane’s broadside, relaxed off a moderate tempo, and performed flawlessly. In the end, he performed it admirably. Yashin’s odds of winning the Chester Cup were lowered to as low as 7/1, while they are as high as 16/1 with other companies, such as Sky Bet.
Approach is the Ascot opener with the aces
Wise Approach became known as as a Royal Ascot contender when making a winning debut for Charlie Appleby in the Two-Year-Old Trial at Ascot on Wednesday.
Wise Approach, who Godolphin had bought for a million guineas as a yearling, started as the 16/5 joint favorite and quickly caught up to competitors under William Buick to lead home a few opponents with prior experience. He was half a length ahead of Super Soldier, who had won his debut at Leicester, while Siren Suit was a neck behind him in third place. Mehmas, the runner-up in the 2016 Coventry Stakes, and Perfect Power, the 2021 Norfolk Stakes winner’s half-brother, are among the smart sprinters in Wise Approach’s lineage. His schedule at Royal Ascot in June is probably going to include one of those races. Buick said: “That’s right. And the ground was beautiful. You would anticipate that he will become better from today and I’m very happy with him.
“For this time of the year it rode like a good two-year-old race. He showed a great attitude and plenty to build on.”
