Watch: Comanche Brave wins the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup

Billy Loughnane’s exceptional season continued at Newmarket on Saturday as he steered Irish raider Comanche Brave to a brilliant sprinting success in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes.

It was the 2000 Guineas-winning jockey who jumped at the chance to partner Donnacha O’Brien’s four-year-old – who had taken on the challenge of Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong earlier in the year and had dazzled on home soil at the Curragh before not being disgraced at Royal Ascot.

Japanese raider Satono Reve attempted to keep it simple on the front end carrying dreams of replicating Agnes World’s victory in this race 26 years ago, with Aidan O’Brien’s Mission Central also among those up on the pace early on.

But the eye was always drawn to 11-1 chance Comanche Brave as he breezed effortlessly into contention and slipped an extra gear when meeting the rising ground to see off the running-on Venetian Sun by a length. Satono Reve was a further neck back in third.

O’Brien said: “He travelled beautifully and Billy gave him a lovely ride. It was an easy watch.

“He was very impressive today I thought. There’s not much margin between these sprinters, and he’s won a Group Two so where else is there to go but keep trying to win Group Ones?

“We weren’t afraid to try it, and I said to Billy just let him jump. I thought he travelled very impressively.

“He doesn’t do a lot when he gets to the front, but I thought he was impressive

“He’s in all the big sprints going forward. We want to win Group Ones, that is the goal of our stable. I probably pitch horses in at the deep end sometimes, but the goal is the same.”

Successful jockey Billy Loughnane said: “Tony Hind my agent does a fantastic job, and he sent me a message saying I think we might have Comanche Grey for the July Cup. I said you're joking - he said he just has to be confirmed tomorrow and thankfully he was. The rest is history.

“It was fantastic spare ride to pick up. He's a horse that's really just beginning to learn how to sprint.

“He's obviously been tried over further but the race today couldn't have gone better. I got onto the back of the Japanese horse who was a perfect target. My one instruction was to just nurse him for as long as I could. I managed to wade into the furlong pole, and he did well from there on.

“The six furlong races this year have been a bit muddling I've found so far in the Group One division, especially at Ascot when it probably didn't suit this fella quite that well. The fact he got an even tempo to race at today was fantastic and he just travelled so sweetly.

“Fast ground is ideal. I do think he's a fast horse and I really wouldn't be afraid to drop him back in trip. I was taken back the whole way through, he's got a lot of gears this horse and now that he's really beginning to learn how to sprint, hopefully it's quite smooth.

“I get a lot of kick out of riding these big races. I'm 20 years old and I'm fortunate enough to be able to pick up rides in them and just learning from that is everything. And to be fortunate enough to win some Group 1s is what I wanted, and what I set myself as a target this year. To ride two or three Group 1 winners in England was what I wanted and thankfully that's my third now and we're only halfway through, so hopefully we'll just keep going.”

Karl Burke trainer of the runner-up Venetian Sun (6-1) said: “She likes the rain, which we are not getting now.

“There are races in the autumn to consider and possibly the Prix Maurice de Gheest beforehand in four weeks’ time, which is doable if she comes out of today’s race fine.

“She just feels this ground, and showed what she can really do on soft ground at Haydock.

“I’ll have to watch the replay, but Cliff (Lee, jockey) just thought after the first furlong he didn’t quite have the position he wanted today.

“She has shown she is right out of the top drawer today.”

Deauville’s Prix Maurice de Gheest could prove a next port of call for Venetian Sun if she recovers sufficiently from her Newmarket exertions, but Burke is also eyeing major assignments at Haydock, Ascot and Stateside at the Breeders’ Cup before the season ends.

“There’s three races in the autumn, but we have to think about the French race first and if she comes out of this well then that’s a possibility,” continued Burke.

“That’s just short of six and a half furlongs on a flat track as well so it’s a possibility and we’ll just do what is best for her.”

It was Satono Reve who was the 2-1 favourite following Venetian Sun’s pre-race drift, but the Japanese raider’s wait for an elusive victory on British soil continues as he again had to settle for a place on the podium in third.

His jockey Christophe Lemaire said: “He travelled well, really comfortably and very relaxed. I was pleased with the way he was running, but unfortunately he didn’t pick up very well when I asked him.

“He stayed on with his beautiful stride, but could not gear up really which is a bit disappointing. He fought on until the end.”

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien relished watching his son Donnacha take home the spoils but also nominated York’s Nunthorpe Stakes and a drop back to five furlongs for his King Charles III Stakes winner Mission Central after he failed to feature at the business end testing the waters at six furlongs.

O’Brien: “Ryan (Moore) just felt he maybe got hung up on the fast pace early, but he ran OK. They went very fast and he jumped quick and he was just there on the pace.

“I’d say he might be better going back to five furlongs. I’m not sure, but York and the Nunthorpe is there for him.

“I’m delighted for Donnacha, it’s unbelievable and he’s done an incredible job with the horse. He ran well in Hong Kong and has progressed with every run, he was a little unlucky the last day at Royal Ascot.” 

Christophe Lemaire, rider of third-placed Satono Reve (2-1 Favourite) said: “He was looking around and racing well but didn’t pick up as I expected. He kept his beautiful stride but just didn’t gear up as I expected.”