Outstrip wins the Champagne Stakes

Outstrip continued a good spell for Godolphin's juveniles when beating a slightly depleted field for the Champagne Stakes.

Mickael Barzalona had to get after his mount two furlongs out, but the response was impressive considering the rain-softened conditions and he powered into the lead to score by three lengths.

The Grey Gatsby, who was sent off the 13/8 joint-favourite along with the winner, held off the persistent challenge of Cable Bay in a photograph for second, but neither were in the same league as the impressive Outstrip.

Barzalona said: "I wanted to give him the best experience possible. He quickened well and got the job done, he's a nice horse and will improve a lot for this race - he'll be a serious horse next year."

Trainer Charlie Appleby added: "I was very confident without being too confident coming into race. He was just touched off in the Vintage, and Mickael said if he had known the horse had such a turn of foot he would have waited longer.

"We were always going to drop him in and ride him for that turn of foot.

"We were very pleased with him coming into this race. We weren't disappointed after Goodwood but we just got nabbed on the line, the winner (Toormore) is a nice horse and can hopefully frank the form (in the Curragh on Sunday).

"He handled conditions and when you ask him to quicken he has got a turn of foot. It was a decent performance.

"Going forward we'll have a look at the Dewhurst or maybe go to Paris for the (Jean-Luc) Lagardere.

"You'd like to think he'd strengthen and a mile would be his trip next year."

Godolphin had managed a one-two in the May Hill Stakes just 24 hours earlier at the track, as well as taking the conditions event for two-year-olds with Be Ready.

The Grey Gatsby's trainer Kevin Ryan said: "He's run a lovely race. It wasn't ideal having to make the running, but we knew there would be no pace and he's done nothing wrong.

"The winner is probably more streetwise than us. It looked like we were going to be third, then he's taken off again.

"I think another furlong will help him with a proper run race. He might go for either the Racing Post Trophy or the Dewhurst."

Charlie Hills, trainer of third-home Cable Bay, said: "He's run a good race and we'll see what there is for him now. There's a Group Two race over six and a half furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte.

Exogenesis, Ajaal and Picks Pinta were all non-runners due to the going, leaving just four runners to go to post and ensuring that Treaty of Paris picked up nearly £5,000 for his connections despite trailing home in rear.