Royal Trip Beckons For Verse

A trip to Royal Ascot for the St James's Palace Stakes is on the agenda for Final Verse after he gave the 2000 Guineas form of George Washington a timely boost at Goodwood.

The first horse to reappear since the Newmarket Classic, where he finished sixth, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt was sent off a 1-2 chance for the Raymarine Stakes under Robert Winston and duly made all, coming home two and a half lengths clear of Deepwater Bay.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said: 'He's in the St James's Palace and it's up to Sir Michael and the owner whether he runs.

'He was a bit keen for his own good at Newmarket but Robert said he was much more relaxed today and that when he gave him a smack it was all over.

'He'll be better on better ground and happier when settled behind horses. To be fair to him, you can't be impressive in this ground.'

Bill Turner pulled off a fine training feat when The Lord, 9-2, gave him a first Listed success in the Peters Plc Stakes.

Less than 24 hours earlier The Lord had smoothly landed a Class 2 handicap and he showed no ill effects turning out so quickly as he forged two lengths clear of Green Manalishi under John Egan.

Owner Monica Teversham, who also bred the six-year-old, was on hand to greet him and said: 'We decided to enter for two races here and when he didn't have a hard race on Wednesday we thought we might as well bring him out again.

'He is six, but seems to be getting better and I still have the mare, who is now 26.'

John Dunlop posted a popular winner when Layazaal got up close home to pip Multakka in the Sealine Handicap.

Richard Hills timed it to perfection on the 5-1 shot in a finish dominated by horses owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Layazaal was purchased at the Doncaster Yearling Sales by Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold, who said: 'There's not a lot of this fellow but he's as tough as old boots, while the other horse (Multakka) is going the right way physically and should make up into a decent stayer.'

Henry Candy has his horses on song and Summer's Eve could hardly have been more impressive when making up for a controversial disqualification at Folkestone in the Avon Inflatables Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

There was a big on-course gamble on Quenched but those who backed even-money market leader never had an anxious moment as Dane O'Neil brought her home three and a half lengths clear.

The winner is a full sister to the top stayer Papineau but according to her trainer will get a mile and a quarter maximum.

Candy said: 'She's getting a bit more professional and she certainly wasn't stopping today. She has mile speed but I might try her over a longer trip in the Ballymacoll Stakes at Newbury.'

The Exhibar Maiden Fillies' Stakes featured two from the Candy stable, but while Quintrell ran well she was no match for Rydal Mount on whom Fergus Sweeney cruised home by two and a half lengths for West Country trainer Stuart Kittow.

The seven-furlong De Novo Stakes went to 11-4 chance Days Of My Life, whose trainer Roger Charlton expressed his surprise that Steve Drowne's mount was preferred in the betting by Illustrious Blue.

Charlton explained: 'My horse was 10lb clear on Timeform and I felt Illustrious Blue was very exposed.'

The concluding Finning Power Stakes went to Trafalgar Square, who proved four lengths too strong for Davenport for the John Akehurst-David Kinsella combination.

? PA Sport