Harbinger takes Ormonde Stakes Harbinger maintained his unbeaten record for the campaign with an authoritative display in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester. Sent off at 8-13 on the back of his impressive Dubai Duty Free Stakes win at Newbury last month, Sir Michael Stoute's charge travelled ominously well throughout in the hands of Ryan Moore. The Dansili colt quickened to the front in the straight and although Age Of Aquarius soon went in pursuit, Harbinger only had to be pushed out to score by a length and a half. Moore said: "It was very easy. He's a very straightforward horse. "It was just like the last day at Newbury - things went very smoothly for him and he was always in control. "He's got a bit of pace, he's always a horse that's shown a lot." Stoute added: "He likes the track. He won here last year when he won his maiden well. "He's a well-balanced horse and we've been pleased with his two races this year. "He had a problem with his palate but he's had that corrected. He looked good at Newbury and again here. "He's a horse with a great mind. Nothing fazes him, he's got a very good temperament. "I think a mile and a half is his best trip. The one concern we had was the trip round here if the ground was very testing. "He'd shown in the John Porter Stakes (Newbury) and the Gordon Stakes (Goodwood) how good he is over a mile and a half. "That's his preferred distance."] Harry Herbert, spokesman for Harbinger's owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: "He is a horse with such a great temperament, Ryan got off and said the horse is a joy, a real joy - which from a jockey is great compliment. "He has got an Arc entry so the dream is still alive. "He will go to Royal Ascot for the Hardwicke and we will see what happens there, but he will probably go back into Group One company later in the year."
