Watch: Kylian zooms from last to first in Dragon Stakes
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Graham Clark
Group race options look set to be explored by connections of Kylian who secured the biggest success of his career when taking apart his rivals in the manner of an exciting prospect in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown Park today, day one of The Coral Summer Festival.
The Karl Burke-trained son of Invincible Spirit might have fluffed his lines on his first two starts but there was no stopping the Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum-owned colt after he added to his Newcastle win on his first venture at Listed level.
Anchored off the pace during the early stages of the five-furlong dash the 9-4 chance found an impressive change of gear when pulled out to come around his rivals by Ryan Moore before shooting clear to score by six lengths.
Following the race, which was second success in in it for Leyburn handler Burke who also won it back in 2017 with Havana Grey, connections hinted that a tilt at the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood on August 2nd could now be on the agenda for Kylian.
Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to the winning owner, said: “He has been quite a slow learner, but he is now learning what it is all about. Ryan said he had a look around when he was in front, but he didn’t look around too much.
“I think he is a good horse. Karl always thought he was a good horse, and he was surprised when he got beat at York first time out, but he is probably just a slow learner and he is learning through his racing. Hopefully he will go on to better things.
“Ryan thinks he could possibly get six furlongs and that is another avenue. Karl certainly has a good team of two-year-olds and that is why he was surprised he didn’t win first time at York as he had been working with all those other good ones.
“The Molecomb could possibly be next. We will sit down and talk to the owner and Karl and see. He should come out of it quite well as I don’t think it was too hard an exertion.”
Yibir back to winning ways
Charlie Appleby admitted he was ‘delighted’ to see 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Yibir get his head back in front and move a step closer to a return to Group One company later in the season following a clear-cut success in the Coral Marathon.
Without a win to his name since securing Group Two honours in last year’s Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, the gelded son of Dubawi made the most of a significant drop in grade in the Listed prize to gain a first victory over two miles.
Having been settled in the rear pair for much of the race by champion jockey William Buick, it was only around the home turn that Yibir, who was sent off the 1-3 favourite to open his account at the third attempt this season, began to make his move.
Despite being urged along some way out Yibir, who finished sixth in last month’s Group One Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, weaved his way through rivals before joining eventual runner-up Aaddeey inside the final quarter of a mile.
Once taking command of affairs Yibir quickly put the race to bed before crossing the line three and a half lengths clear of Aaddeey with the returning Ocean Wind a further short-head adrift in third on his first start in 771 days.
Appleby, speaking away from the track, said: “I’m delighted to see Yibir get his head back in front there. It was a good ride by William.
“It was always our plan to hold him up and use that turn of foot we have seen in the past.
“Talking to William afterwards, he said that was his maximum trip.
“The likelihood is we will look towards an Irish St Leger trial and then on to the Irish St Leger.”
An outing back at Group One level looks set to be next up for Ocean Wind with connections earmarking the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on August 2nd as the aim.
Harry Teal, assistant trainer to his father Roger, said: “We are very happy with that run. It was a brilliant run. It shows he still retains a lot of ability.
“Yibir is still a very good horse, even though his latest form hadn’t been that brilliant, but he clearly showed he has got that in the locker. To be that close in behind staying on trying to challenge for second shows he still has plenty of talent.
“Hopefully he will go to the Goodwood Cup now. He has had two years off the track so we will see how he is in the morning. Nothing is set in stone yet.”
Woods savours Victory
Trainer Sean Woods was overcome with emotion before declaring ‘you haven’t seen anything yet’ after Savvy Victory showed why he is the apple of his eye when powering to the most significant success of his career in the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes.
In what was a mini re-run of the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, a race in which all four of the runners contested, the New Bay colt stamped his authority over his rivals in the Listed event when coming from last to first under Tom Marquand.
After surrounding ground leaving the stalls the 17-2 chance was left playing catch up on his three rivals, however the slow start failed to have any adverse effect on the Julian Hui-owned colt.
Victory looked to be heading the way of either long-time leader Saga or Poker Face with the two locked in an entertaining battle late on, but neither had any answer to Savvy Victory who swept past both horses before scoring by two and a quarter lengths.
Woods said: “We were absolutely gutted in the Wolferton. He got knocked over at a crucial time. You haven’t seen anything yet. On heavy ground, he will be a proper horse.
“This today was a race where we had an option of coming here or going for the John Smith’s Cup and we chose to come here.
“We got away with it to be honest as that ground is drying out all the time. I’m happy that he has won and I’m delighted. You can’t believe what this means to me.
“He is a horse that I have believed in since day one. He has been placed in a lot of Group races.
“This race today played into his hands. We took our time, and came there, and he has quickened on ground he doesn’t really like as he would like it heavier. A mile and a quarter is his trip.”
While Savvy Victory was trimmed from 33-1 into 16-1 for the John Smith’s Cup at York (Saturday 15th July) the Newmarket handler ruled out a trip to the Knavesmire.
Woods continued: “No, I don’t think we will back him quickly. We will take him home and give him a pat. We will have a look at things and see what they do with him.
“I’m very happy for the horse and I’m delighted for the owner.”
Joint owner Danny O’Neill hailed trainer Gary Moore a ‘genius’ after He’s A Latchicho provided him with the ‘perfect present’ on his 57th birthday when making his return to the flat following a spell over hurdles a triumphant one in the Davies Group Handicap.
After registering back-to-back wins over hurdles at Fontwell, the latest coming last month, the gelded son of Fast Company defied joint-top weight in the one mile six-furlong prize on his first start on the level since October.
Warming to the task the longer the race went on the 14-1 chance, who O’Neill owns together with Moore, showed an abundance of stamina to motor past Miss Cynthia before scoring by three and a quarter lengths.
O’Neill said: “He was carrying much bigger weights at Fontwell a few weeks ago so he probably thought this was light!
“He won three times on the flat last year but then he had a couple of niggles so we switched him to hurdles. We decided to have a go today as he was so well in himself.
“We fancied him a bit today and we had a good bet on him at 12-1 and 14-1. It’s my 57th birthday as well today so it is perfect present.
“I’ve had horses with Gary for 15 years and this is either my 10th or 11th horse with him and they have all won several times apart from one. The man is a genius.”
Starlore surprises
Ryan Moore celebrated what he described as a ‘bit of a surprise’ aboard Starlore after the Sir Michael Stoute-trained debutant hit the ground running in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes.
Travelling smartly into the seven furlong prize the 9-2 chance did just enough to repel the late charge of Maximum Dividend to provide Moore with his second winner on the card following Kylian’s success in the Dragon Stakes.
Moore, registering a 16.8-1 double, said: “It was his first run and I expect him to come forward for today. He was green when he hit the front. Hopefully he has got a bit of a future.
“Today was a bit of a surprise but hopefully there is more to come.”
Trainer James Evans orchestrated the perfect tune out of sprinter Dream Composer, who bounced back from his defeat at Royal Ascot when swooping late to register a third win of the year in the opening Cavani Menswear Sartorial Sprint Handicap.
After finishing down the field in the Wokingham Stakes at the Royal meeting last month the seemingly progressive five-year-old returned to winning ways when powering past Korker in the closing stages of the five-furlong dash to defeat Korker by a head.
Evans said of the 3-1 winner: “I think the ground was a bit too lively at Royal Ascot. He has been travelling much better in his races so the five seems to suit well now. The drop back to five with that stiff uphill finish we hoped might galvanise him back into action.
“He did take a bit of time getting into it today, and we wouldn’t rule out going back up to six furlongs, because if anything he looked to get a shade outpaced on this fast track, but thankfully that stiff furlong help him run them down.
“It didn’t look like he was going to get there but when you looked at the winning post from where he was a furlong out you thought we aren’t out of it yet and he did just manage to get there but he is progressing really well.”
A return to Goodwood, where the Dream Ahead gelding has secured two of his previous victories, is now likely to be on the agenda according to the Kinnersley handler.
Evans added: “There is plenty for him. There is the five-furlong handicap on the first day of Glorious Goodwood which is a 0-105 and that was a thought, and obviously the Stewards’ Cup would come into as well.
“He likes Goodwood so that is a possible, but we won’t have any fancy ideas for a bit. If we can pick up lovely races like this, we will be happy.”
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