Masterful win at Ascot Masterful lived up to trainer John Gosden`s expectations when running his rivals off their feet in the opening race of Hong Kong Day at Ascot this afternoon.The 11-8 favourite made all in the Sino Group Trophy Classified Stakes and had his rivals in trouble shortly after turning for home when asked to stretch by Johnny Murtagh.Masterful was freewheeling through the final furlong, his one and three-quarter length margin of victory over Serge Lifar masking how much he had in hand.It was the Danzig colt`s first attempt at 10 furlongs, and Gosden said: 'There`s always a question, being a Danzig, that he would stay, but his mother stayed and he got a mile-and-a-quarter well. I told Johnny to go out and ride him like he does stay.'Very pleasing, as you don`t get many Danzigs to stay. The average winning trip here in Europe is seven furlongs. It proves I had him wrong when I ran him over six and seven furlongs!'
