Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes |
|
| Group 2, Haydock Park 15:25 £90,000 added, 3yo only, 6f, Class 1  |
|
| Saturday 26th May 2018 | |
1 Sands Of Mali 100/30
2
Invincible Army 5/2F
3
Emblazoned 8/1
8 ran Distances: nse, 2¼l, ½l
Time: 1m 9.53s (fast by 0.67s)
Sands Of Mali edges out favourite Invincible Army in a photo
 |
Sands Of Mali, winner of last year’s Gimcrack Stakes, showed he had come on for his victory at Chantilly on his reappearance with an admirable display in a strong Group Two heat, to boost his claims for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
The Richard Fahey-trained colt went straight to the front from the stalls under jockey Paul Hanagan and travelled well throughout – but he was strongly challenged by Invincible Army at the business end.
The pair were virtually inseparable at the line, but after a tense wait, Sands Of Mali (100-30) got the verdict by a nose. Emblazoned was two and a quarter lengths away in third.
Fahey said: “He’s a very fast horse, we’d love to get a lead with him but nothing was quick enough today. Ascot and the Commonwealth Cup was always the plan and that is the obvious race.
“It’s a mystery what happened to him in the Middle Park last year, he came back from it fine, then he just failed to stay a mile at the Breeders’ Cup.
“He looked like he was going to win comfortably today, but Paul said he pricked his ears. I’d have settled for a dead-heat, I must admit.”
He added: “It took Paul ages to pull him up, I wouldn’t mind trying him over further eventually as he doesn’t look like a sprinter.
“He’s a typical breezer in that last year he had two speeds, he’s much more relaxed this year.”
Hanagan admitted: “I didn’t know which way it had gone on the bob. He’s so tough and genuine.”
Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
£90,000 added, 3yo only, 6f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good (Good to Soft in places in back straight)
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (6) | Sands Of Mali (FR) 10/3 | P Hanagan 9-0 |
R A Fahey | 3 | |
| 2nd | (7) | nse | Invincible Army (IRE) 5/2f | James Doyle 9-0 |
J Tate | 3 |
| 3rd | (4) | 2¼ | Emblazoned (IRE) 8/1 | L Dettori 9-0 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 4th | (8) | ½ | James Garfield (IRE) 7/2 | S De Sousa 9-0 |
George Scott | 3 |
| 5th | (1) | 5 | Actress (IRE) 28/1 | W M Lordan 8-11 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 6th | (2) | hd | Heartache 6/1 | M Harley 8-11 |
C G Cox | 3 |
| 7th | (3) | hd | Unfortunately (IRE) 16/1 | P J McDonald 9-0 |
K R Burke | 3 |
| 8th | (5) | 82 | Barraquero (IRE) 14/1 | Tom Marquand 9-0 |
B J Meehan | 3 |
