Fallon wins at Newmarket

Kieren Fallon sported Hamdan Al Maktoum`s second colours on Mugharreb in the Listed Hopeful Stakes, but he persuaded the Gone West colt to put his best foot forward and that was good enough to come out on top at Newmarket today.

The three times champion dashed Mugharreb into the lead with a furlong to race, getting first run on Welcome Friend who was having a bit of trouble finding daylight.

He eventually did so, but Mugharreb had flown and Fallon kept him going strongly up the hill to hold him off by one and three quarter lengths.

Sheikh Hamdan`s other runner, Munjiz, ridden by his retained jockey Richard Hills, had every chance but was forced to give best up the hill and was only fourth in the end.

Winning trainer Ben Hanbury said: 'Last time at Ascot, when he disappointed us behind Orientor, Richard (Hughes) said the horse wasn`t moving right so we had the back man look at him.

'Kieren said we could go back to seven furlongs with him if we wanted, but he said, ridden like this, he has plenty of speed for six furlongs. He will be a hell of a horse for sprinting next year.'

And taking a more immediate view, the winning owner`s racing manager Angus Gold added: 'The Diadem (six furlongs at Ascot) could be an obvious possibility for him.'

Earlier in the afternoon, Hills had better fortune when Sheikh Hamdan`s newcomer Esloob just prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Rose Cottage Maiden Fillies` Stakes.

The daughter of Diesis had only a head and the same to spare over Snowfire and Alasha, but it was a good race with plenty fancied and the winner is expected to go on to better things.

Esloob is trained by Marcus Tregoning who has his horses in good form, and Gold added: 'She is very lazy and always has been at home, but that is a nice fault to have and hopefully she will stay a fair bit further.

'We will obviously have to consider the Fillies` Mile at Ascot (Group One on September 29) or that sort of race.'

Brian Meehan and Brett Doyle teamed up to take the two other two-year-old events, Savannah Bay landing the Girton Maiden Stakes, with Silence Is Golden showing the way home in the Saxham Nursery.

Savannah Bay stretched out well up the hill to go three and a half lengths clear of Charley Bates.

Meehan enthused: 'He is bred to be a middle distance horse next year. He has a lot of class and a lot of quality.

'He is in the Royal Lodge (Group Two at Ascot on September 29) so we will see how he is, but we may not run him again this season.'

However, the handicapper might well decide Silence Is Golden`s future and, after watching Doyle bring her with a well-timed run on the rails to score by two and a half lengths, Meehan added: 'I would love to keep her as a handicapper next year.

'But it all depends what the handicapper does with her now. If he flattens her, she will have to go to the Sales.'

Pat Eddery gave John Dunlop`sGive Notice a tremendous ride to defy top weight in the Breheny Stakes (Showcase Handicap), but the gelding won`t be returning to Newmarket for the Cesarewitch in October.

Dunlop said: 'He ran well at Ascot last time, but I think a trip short of two miles suits him best, one mile six or seven furlongs. The Cesarewitch trip would be too far.

'There is a one mile six race at Doncaster next month and we might have a look at that. We will see what the handicapper does.'