Point Lonsdale claimed his second career victory at Chester’s May Festival with a dominant display in the tote.co.uk Supporting Racing Ormonde Stakes.
Winner of the Huxley Stakes over a mile and a quarter 12 months ago, the Aidan O’Brien man went on to run creditably in a series of Group 1 races, notably when finishing third in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and fourth in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
After struggling over a mile and a half in Qatar and Dubai earlier in the year, the five-year-old was promoted to almost a mile and three quarters for a Group 3 event which his trainer had already won five times and increasing the endurance test seems to do the trick.
The 13/8 favorite looked to be going as fast as he could for much of the race, with Deauville Legend, fourth in the Melbourne Cup, putting in a strong gallop in front with blinkers on for the first time.
However, he was a spent force from the home round and Point Lonsdale quickly took over and asserted himself, pulling away six and a half lengths from a persistent stop on the line to complete a hat-trick on the card of the jockey Ryan Moore.
Alsakib also made late gains in third, with Deauville Legend weakening in fourth.
Paul Smith of Coolmore said of the winner: “We’re delighted with him as he’s a very versatile horse. You could prepare him for a Gold Cup or race him in something like the Coronation at Epsom or go to Ascot with it, you can do anything.
“It’s a pleasure to have anything to do with him. He’s enjoyed this step in his journey today to be able to participate in something like the Gold Cup, he’s enthusiastic and just does what you tell him to do. I think he enjoyed it today, it’s a nice good pitch. We’ll make a plan in a few weeks.
John Gosden felt the conditions proved the undoing of St Leger runner-up Arrest, who impressed here last year when winning Vase in very different weather conditions.
“He ran very well, but the ground is too dry for him,” Gosden said.
“Unfortunately, he just wasn’t in love with the pitch.”
