Toormore© Photo Healy Racing
Toormore dug deep for James Doyle to deservedly get off the mark for the campaign in the Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.
The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old ran a fantastic race on his seasonal reappearance when touched off by stable companion Night Of Thunder in the Lockinge at Newbury and ran with credit once more when fourth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Carrying the colours of Godolphin for the first time after being sold by Middleham Park Racing, Toormore was the 9-4 joint-favourite down in trip and class on the Sussex Downs and was soon dominating proceedings at the head of affairs.
The opposition began to make their moves inside the last two furlongs, with Code Red briefly challenging for the lead, but Toormore was all heart and came home three-quarters of a length clear.
The other joint-favourite, Prix Jean Prat runner-up Dutch Connection, kept on well for pressure to grab second, just ahead of Safety Check in third. Code Red eventually weakened into fourth place.
Doyle said: "It was his first run for us (Godolphin) and he's a solid horse. He's shown that again today.
"Seven furlongs is definitely the minimum for him and I just let him use his stride and he relaxed in front.
"He ground it out nicely and it's nice for him to get his head in front.
"He gets a mile and Hughesie (Richard Hughes) said he'd often thought he'd get a little bit further.
"He's battle-hardened, they were all coming at him, but he kept pulling a bit out."
