Arod dazzles in Diomed Arod claimed the big prize he has long promised with a domination of his rivals from the front in the Investec Diomed Stakes at Epsom. Twelve months on from finishing fourth in the Investec Derby, the four-year-old was the 7-4 favourite having run the race of his life to finish third in the Lockinge at Newbury last month. There was plenty of pace on in the early stages of the Group Three contest over an extended mile, with Custom Cut initially disputing the running with Arod before the market leader strode into a clear lead that he never relinquished. Favourite backers will have been a little anxious as Arod appeared a little too keen to get on with his job, but he glided round the home turn under Andrea Atzeni to give himself real momentum ahead of the climb to the winning line. Custom Cut did his best to keep tabs on the leader, but Peter Chapple-Hyam's stable star was two lengths too good. Atzeni said: "He deserves that, they've always liked him and he ran well in the Derby last year. He was a bit keen but he didn't stop and stayed well, he was by far the best horse and it's good to get his head in front. "He's a beautiful looking horse and hopefully there's more to come. I'd say a mile is his trip as he has such a high cruising speed, but he could stay 10 furlongs." Chapple-Hyam added: "Last year we tried to switch him off as I was asked to train him for a Derby. He ran well but didn't stay, although saying that he met some good horses so could have been beaten by them over any trip. You've got to stay here as it's a stiff track, but class will always out. "I know where I'll be told to go, Royal Ascot, and that is a different kettle of fish with all those horses. If we get it dry and it's very quick he could play a part in the Queen Anne, but obviously the Hong Kong horse (Able Friend) would like fast ground. "We've got to out-think them in the ride. We wouldn't be the best horse, maybe 20-1, so at some stage you need to grab the bull by the horns." David Redvers, racing manager for owners Qatar Racing, said: "We'll have to see how he comes out of the race, there's a chance Ascot will come too quick. If he'd come here and not come off the bridle maybe you could go to Ascot without worrying. "It's a tough place to come here, even if you do win well. Hopefully he will be fine to run back at Ascot, otherwise we'll look at other targets later in the season." David O'Meara said of Custom Cut: "I was very pleased and the penalty made life tough for him, but he's run another good race today. "I'll probably try him over 10 furlongs in the Sky Bet Stakes at York, where his penalty will be smaller." Paul Cole said of Complicit, who took third late in the day: "I'm very pleased with that run as he took a while to get going and only started racing in the last half-furlong. "It was nice to have a runner in a decent race. There's a possibility he could go to Ascot for the Wolferton Handicap as long as the ground is OK."
