Gamut Shows Diamond Sparkle

Gamut earned a tilt at the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes with a hard-fought but ultimately clear-cut victory in the Princess of Wales´s Edward St George Memorial Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday.

Having taken the July Stakes earlier on the card, Kieren Fallon completed a Group-race double on the day with an enterprising ride.

After the five runners had dawdled for the first furlong when no-one wanted to go on, Fallon took the bull by the horns and rushed the Sir Michael Stoute-trained six-year-old into a clear lead.

Richard Hughes tried to cover the move on the 6-5 favourite Day Flight, but Gamut had settled into a rhythm for Fallon and soon had all his rivals struggling.

Gamut powered away in the final quarter-mile as he turned the Group Two event into a procession, winning by eight lengths from Day Flight, with Dubai Success four lengths away in third.

Fallon and Stoute, the partnership that lit up much of last season, split at the start of this year.

But although the circumstances may have changed, there remains a great deal of mutual respect and it was through Gamut´s owner Derrick Smith (Fallon is retained to ride horses owned by Smith, Michael Tabor and John Magnier) that trainer and rider were re-united here.

Stoute quipped: 'He´s (Fallon) doing well, isn´t he? I think he´s improving!

'Seriously, I thought Kieren rode him with a lot of initiative. This horse is tough and honest and there aren´t many like him around.

'He made the running before in the Jockey Club Stakes here earlier in the year (when second to Alkaased). We didn´t want to, but we thought he might have to and he enjoyed himself. He looked good today.

'He´s a very sound horse, but he´s big-topped and he needs a bit of cut.

'I haven´t talked to the owners, but I think we will throw our hat into the ring and go for the King George.

'He is six now and there isn´t a lot of scope for improvement from him, but he will give it his best and we will hope for similar ground.'

(C) PA Sport