Arcs Takes Sprint Double

Les Arcs landed a Group One double in tremendous style when holding the late rattle of Iffraaj in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

Winner of the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, Tim Pitt's six-year-old was sent off at 10-1 in the six-furlong contest but gave his supporters a scare at the line.

Having been driven to the front by John Egan in the final furlong, Les Arcs looked as though he might be reeled in by Frankie Dettori on the fast-finishing Iffraaj (11-2) but the partnership held on by a neck.

Ashdown Express (20-1) was three-quarters of a length back in third ahead of Amadeus Wolf (10-1) in fourth.

Pitt said: 'I am more thrilled for the horse's sake than anyone else's. He has proved that he is a genuine top-class sprinter.

'I am not at all shocked by the progress he has made. There was one moment in the middle of February when I said to Willie that the ?crazy mid-season target is the July Cup' but I didn't think we would take in the Golden Jubilee on the way.

'He is in the Nunthorpe but he probably won't go there and he is also in the Haydock Sprint Cup.

'There are two races in Japan that we have been looking at and I would also consider taking him down to Australia.'

Egan, who broke from stall 15 and was followed home by those drawn towards the stands side, added: 'Luckily the splits just came for me and it is easy when a horse just travels with you like that.

'Willie has supported me for a long time and put a lot of money into the game. He deserved these two Group One winners and hopefully there will be more to come.'

Iffraaj came agonisingly close to providing Godolphin with their first Group One win of the season but the line came too soon for Frankie Dettori's mount.

Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said: 'It was a big run and I was pleased to see him go so well.

'He will be entered in all the championship races from six furlongs to a mile including the Sussex Stakes.'

Chris Wall, trainer of Ashdown Express, said: 'We've run well. Les Arcs beat us at Ascot and he's done it again, but it was a good performance and he has run well.

'This shows the form book to be true. Everything went right for my horse. I just wish he could put his head in front one day.'

The race failed to provide a fairytale end for Australian raider Takeover Target who was successful in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot but could muster only third in the Golden Jubilee.

However, his subsequent effort was a disappointment with the antipodean challenger going off the 9-2 favourite but finishing no better than seventh.

His jockey Jay Ford said: 'It was a very below-par performance from him.

'He travelled well off the two leaders early on but when I asked him for an effort he could not go any faster. When he came off the bridle he was going up and down in the same spot.'

(C) PA Sport