Military procession in Diamond Stakes Military Order proved a different class to his rivals when powering clear late on to land the Listed Diamond Stakes at Dundalk, for Godolphin. The Charlie Appleby-trained gelding was making his first start since finishing third in the Group 2 Bahrain Trophy last November and went to post 11/10 favourite. After leading briefly from the stalls Billy Lee tucked his mount in behind the leaders in the ten furlong contest. He asked him to close turning for home and the six-year-old hit the front a furlong-and-a-half down, stretching clear late on for a nine-and-a-half length win over Geryon. Lee said: "He looked fit in the ring, he looked well. "You would be always worried would they be a bit fresh, but he lobbed away to the start. "He lobbed away through the race as well, we went along nice and even, and he was lobbing away.  "He just took a few strides to get into top gear and, as soon as he did, he was gone. "It was a really good performance. He was the class horse on paper and he showed that.  "He (Appleby) was (filling me with confidence) - he thought he wouldn't be beaten, so it was good that he was right." Lee was recording a quick double, having also landed the preceding mile handicap on Usuario Amigo. (Quotes by Michael Graham)
