Wootton Bassett bound for Haydock

He named Haydock’s Betfred Sprint Cup on September 3, and the Qipco British Champions Series Sprint Stakes at Ascot on October 15 as potential outings following the Group One Prix Maurice De Gheest Goldikova at Deauville.

Well-placed throughout, the Malton trainer’s three-year-old hit the front with a furlong to go but was overhauled by French trainer Freddie Head’s Moonlight Cloud – a horse that Wootton Bassett beat on his way to Group One honours last autumn.

The big disappointment was Dream Ahead.

David Simcock’s horse, given an equal rating to Frankel last season after winning two Group One contests last autumn, won the July Cup last month – but put in no sort of performance and was a disappointing seventh under William Buick. He, too, is now bound for Haydock.

“There’s a little light at the end of the tunnel,” said Fahey, alluding to his training difficulties as Wootton Bassett struggled to recover from an early season setback.

“We’re still not 100 per cent with him, but at least he ran some sort of race. Hopefully the best is still to come, and that he can win a race this season.”

As for Dream Ahead, trainer David Simcock said: “He didn’t run his race and I can’t tell you why. He had a gap and couldn’t go through it. Haydock is still the plan.”

There was some consolation for Wootton Bassett’s jockey Paul Hanagan – he did win the silver saddle that is awarded to the top rider at the Shergar Cup.

The winner of the opener on Sarrsar, his third place finish in the finale on Firebeam secured individual honours at Ascot, though Ireland took the team prize for the third successive year.

“I was a bit gutted I couldn't have won the last race for the team but I really enjoyed the day and would love to come back,” said Malton’s champion rider.

“It's a privilege to represent your country and the atmosphere was great.”

Sir Michael Stoute’s Class Is Class opened his Pattern-race account with a most impressive display in the Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

The five-year-old was sent off the 3-1 joint-favourite having only been beaten a couple of lengths by multiple Group One winner Twice Over at York on his latest start and he made the most of the drop in class under Kieren Fallon.

Sent to the lead turning for home, Class Is Class bounded up the home straight, scoring by three and a half lengths from Elusive Pimpernel.

Fallon said: “This was really only a confidence booster for him and he was impressive. I knew he would stay and that will have done his confidence a lot of good.”

Stoute was widely expected to complete a big-race double in the EBF ‘Kayf Tara’ Dick Hern Fillies’ Stakes but his Heavenly Dawn had to make do with third place behind 11-1 chance Crystal Gal.

To compound matters, Heavenly Dawn’s rider William Buick was found guilty of careless riding and handed a three-day suspension (August 20, 21 and 22), meaning he will miss the Betfred Ebor at York.

Dancing Rain made virtually every yard of the running to claim the German Oaks at Dusseldorf.

Trained by proud Yorkshireman William Haggas, the high-class filly thrived under the same positive tactics which saw her gallop to victory in the Epsom equivalent in June.

Johnny Murtagh was in the saddle that day, but a revitalised Kieren Fallon produced a similarly accomplished display in Germany.

Dancing Rain’s advantage at the top of the straight lengthened with seemingly every stride as Fallon’s partner collected the Group One prize over a mile and a quarter with stacks in hand.

Meanwhile the Haggas-trained Green Destiny is likely to try his hand in Group Three company on his next start after saying farewell to handicaps.

The four-year-old has earned a crack at Pattern races after running out an impressive winner of the John Smith’s Cup at York, though he failed to make an impact in the totesport Mile at Glorious Goodwood.

Haggas is now looking at the nine-furlong Sky Bet Mobile Strensall Stakes back at York on August 19 or the Winter Hill Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Windsor on August 27.

“He’ll go for a Group race or something of that ilk,” he said.

“I don’t know quite where yet, possibly York for the Strensall, which is a bit short for him, or possibly Windsor for the Winter Hill Stakes, but we’ll see.

“I haven’t discussed it with the owners yet.”

In other York news, Roger Charlton believes dropping down to five furlongs could be the making of Bated Breath when he goes for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes later this month.

Khalid Abdullah’s four-year-old has raced exclusively over six furlongs for his 10 starts to date, but Charlton got the impression during his run in the Darley July Cup that the minimum trip could be right up his street.

“We’re aiming at the Nunthorpe. Last time was definitely a step up,” Charlton said yesterday.