Saint Lawrence delivers in Denford Stakes

Horse Racing

Experienced colt could go for Royal Lodge next.

Saint Lawrence appeared to appreciate a switch to front-running tactics as he got his career back on track with a tenacious success in the Denford Stakes at Newbury.

Having finished fourth in both the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket and the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot, the Roger Varian-trained son of Al Kazeem finally added to his Redcar maiden success in June with victory in the seven-furlong Listed prize.

Sent straight into the lead by Andrea Atzeni, the 11-2 chance was not for passing, holding the previously-unbeaten 6-5 favourite Dhahabi at bay by three-quarters of a length.

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Varian said: “I was initially disappointed at Ascot, but it was a funny race. Early on they raced in two groups and we followed the (John) Gosden horse and the (Owen) Burrows horse, who were the two market principals that day so you would say we would have position A.

“For whatever reason they folded early, which left us a little isolated and we had to join the main group and the winner and second had first run. I’m upgrading his run and though I’m not saying it cost him his winning chance, I thought he ran better than the bare result. He has always worked like a nice horse at home and we hadn’t lost faith in him.

“I’m pleased for the horse as he was one of the ones we nominated early on. Although he is by Al Kazeem he showed up well on the gallops and I thought he could be a Chesham horse, but we didn’t go down that route and he didn’t disappoint in the Pat Eddery or the Superlative.

“We had been taking him back and asking him to make up plenty of ground and we thought on testing ground we would make our experience tell. Andrea gave him a good ride from the front.”

Though plans remain fluid for Saint Lawrence, a step up in both class and trip could both be on the agenda on his next start.

He said: “I said to Andrea would he get a mile and he thinks he will. I don’t think he has to necessarily go a mile next time, but he has had five runs already. The Royal Lodge can favour experience and now he is a Listed winner we have got to aim at Group Threes and Twos. He will be better on better ground, but he coped with it.”

Alcohol Free (left) looks a filly of some potential
Alcohol Free (left) looks a filly of some potential (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Andrew Balding earmarked next month’s Group Three Shadwell Dick Poole Stakes as a likely target for Alcohol Free, who made a winning debut in the opening division of the Unibet Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Balding said of the 17-2 winner: “She looked a nice filly at home. That was our first two-year-old filly we have run this year. That was a pleasing start and she coped with the ground. It is nice, as it looks like we have a nice filly for Jeff Smith.

“Oisin felt that was right (six furlongs) for the time being and that she has a lot of natural speed. Jeff is chairman of Salisbury so the Dick Poole will be high on the agenda.”

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Roger Varian Andrew Balding Alcohol Free Denford Stakes St Lawrence

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