Persica powers clear for impressive Sefton triumph

Persica was a convincing winner of the bet365 Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, to set up a possible Lockinge Stakes bid.

Richard Hannon’s 3-1 chance was ridden by Ryan Moore in a small field for the Group Three, which featured two horses from Charlie Appleby’s yard and two from James Owen’s.

The globetrotting Ottoman Fleet and last year’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly were the 2-1 joint-favourites, with the latter making the running after his stablemate Lavender Hill Mob failed to keep pace with him in the early stages.

But it was Persica who took up the lead with two furlongs remaining and was eventually an easy victor, with two and a half lengths in hand of the Appleby-trained Ottoman Fleet.

Hannon said: “He’s a very good horse with a high cruising speed. We wanted to take him to Saudi but that didn’t work out, so we stayed for the mile and three Winter Derby and he got there very well and didn’t get the trip.

“If it turns up soft ground, I wouldn’t mind taking a chance with him (in the Lockinge). A fast-run race would suit him perfectly.

“He is improving and there’s been a lot of interest to buy him, but these horses are hard to make and take a long time to make.

“It was very soft ground when he ran in the Champion Stakes last year and a mile and a quarter on that ground just stretches him at the very top level, but I’ve no doubt he’ll get to the top level.”

Of his other Lockinge contenders, Rosallion and Haatem, the trainer added: “Rosallion is on course for the Lockinge, but he won’t go anywhere when the ground is soft. I’m very happy with the way he looks and the way he’s working.

“Haatem is working very well and he goes for the Group Two at Sandown (bet365 Mile) and Unquestionable will go to Ascot for the Paradise Stakes and might well end up in the Lockinge as well.

“Unfortunately they might all meet in the Queen Anne, which is a terrible thing isn’t it!

“We’ve got a lot of nice horses and we’re very hopeful for the year ahead.”