Mussab makes most of Harry Rosebery opportunity at Ayr

Richard Fahey is targeting a step up to Group company with Mussab following his victory in the British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr.

Still a maiden when third in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the Ten Sovereigns colt failed to fire in the Gimcrack Stakes at York but subsequently broke his duck with a dominant victory on the all-weather at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

Stepping up to Listed class in Scotland, the 9-2 shot was always going well in the hands of Oisin Orr and finished strongly in the rain-softened ground to score by a length and a quarter from Dubai Champion, with 5-4 favourite Hickory Lad a disappointing fifth.

Fahey, who trains in partnership with his son, Peter, said: “I don’t know what happened at York, maybe he’s just a five-furlong horse and we disappointed him by dropping him in.

“There were doubts over the ground today, but he seemed to cope with it well, and we’ll go for the Cornwallis (at Newmarket on October 10) now.

“He is a decent horse. We were disappointed at York, but maybe just stretching him out to six didn’t really work out. He’s naturally quick, sometimes those quick horses like to be let run and we let him run today.”

Pre-race concerns about the testing conditions also proved unfounded for Fluorescence as she routed the opposition in the other Listed race on the card, the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes.

A handicap winner on good to firm at Pontefract last month, the four-year-old was subsequently taken out of the Beverley Bullet after the ground turned heavy.

The going was officially described as soft for her latest assignment, but connections decided to take their chance and it proved the right call, as the 9-2 winner travelled powerfully and quickened up well under Danny Tudhope to beat the 13-8 favourite and defending champion Beautiful Diamond by three lengths.

“I was a little bit dubious about the ground, but she handled it well and she’s got her black type now, which is the main thing,” said Bethell.

“Now we know she likes that ground we could run her again before the end of the season. We’ll have to look at the programme book and see what there is.

“She’s had a brilliant year and the owners are owner-breeders, so it’s great she’s got black type for them.”

Eye Of Dubai was a 15-2 winner of the Ladbrokes Ayr Bronze Cup for the father and son team of John and Sean Quinn and jockey Jason Hart.

For those looking for Ayr Gold Cup pointers, Eye Of Dubai was drawn in stall two, while runner-up Rousing Encore came from 24 and third home Bone Marra was in 10.