Cantor Fitzgerald Research Brigadier Gerard Stakes
Group 3, Sandown 19:45
£65,000 added,
4yo plus,
1m 2f 7y, Class 1  
Thursday 28th May 2015

1 Western Hymn 11/4
2 Arab Spring 9/4F
3 Niceofyoutotellme 25/1
NR: Tullius (IRE)
5 ran Distances: hd, ½l, 1¾l
TIME 2m 6.55s (slow by 1.05s)

Western Hymn collars Arab Spring close home to land a thriller for John Gosden & James Doyle

Western Hymn
© Racehorse Photos

Western Hymn
Arab Spring jumped out to make it under Ryan Moore and proved very hard to pass through the final furlong as the principals fought it out.

James Doyle had been happy to sit just off the pace on the John Gosden-trained Western Hymn, who improved travelling well a quarter of a mile from home before being given the office to chase down the leader.

It was virtually stride for stride to the line, with a head in it at the finish.

Prolific all-weather scorer Tryster was one of the first beaten and was eased by William Buick when his chance had gone.

Gosden said: "I told James he was spot on today, but not to make his move until inside the final two furlongs as he thinks he has done enough. He got there a bit too soon, had he waited he would probably have won by half a length.

"The second horse is a lovely horse, he set a lovely pace, and they were both carrying penalties.

"I'm delighted with Eagle Top (fourth), Frankie (Dettori) said he ran like he needed it and he ran really how I wanted him to.

"I'm delighted with him, he will go to the Hardwicke Stakes and if the ground is reasonable Western Hymn will go for the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Eclipse is also a possibility."

Charlie Appleby said of Tryster: "The cold reality is he didn't feel the same horse as he did on the all-weather, William said he felt different going down to post. We will get him back home and have a look at him, but on first evidence he has pulled up fine.

"Going forward we might put him in the Arlington Million, as it's on the turn and he likes passing horses. These small fields don't suit him.

"We'll have to speak to connections about Ascot, but my own personal opinion is that a more realistic target will be Arlington."

Sir Michael Stoute said of Arab Spring: "It was a good performance and he never runs a bad race.

"He might be a little bit better over a mile and a half.

"He's got the two engagements at Royal Ascot (Prince of Wales's and Hardwicke), we'll go home and discuss it and see how he comes out of this race, there's no need to decide at the minute."

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Cantor Fitzgerald Research Brigadier Gerard Stakes
£65,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 2f 7y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good to Firm

Pos Draw Dist Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (3) Western Hymn 11/4 James Doyle
9-3
J H M Gosden 4
2nd (1) hd Arab Spring (IRE) 9/4f R L Moore
9-3
Sir Michael Stoute 5
3rd (2) ½ Niceofyoutotellme 25/1 P J Dobbs
9-0
R M Beckett 6
4th (6) Eagle Top 11/4 L Dettori
9-0
J H M Gosden 4
5th (4) 7 Tryster (IRE) 7/2 W Buick
9-3
C Appleby 4
NR (5) Tullius (IRE) 12/1 J Fortune
9-0
A M Balding 7

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