Melodi Media Huxley Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
1m 2f 70y Good to Soft
close up in 4th, wide and headway to lead inside final furlong, ran on, comfortable
led 1f, tracked leaders, pushed along and short of room 2f out, effort between horses entering final furlong, went 2nd towards finish
headway to lead after 1f, set steady pace, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
keen, raced wide tracked leader, pushed along 2f out, ridden and faded inside final furlong
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £2.38 |
| CSF | £4.04 (1, 4) |
| Win | £1.60 (1) |
| Exacta | £3.90 (1, 4) |
| Trifecta | £11.90 (1, 4, 3) |
A race that was elevated from Group 3 status after the 2017 edition, and another disappointing turnout in terms of numbers, but not in terms of its winner, Armory a superior performer to 112-rated Forest Ranger, who won in 2018 and 2019 (2020 did not take place, due to Covid), and one who probably has a Group 1 with his name on it this year. It was run at a steady pace, as underlined by a quick 106.9% finish from 3f out. The ground by this stage of the meeting was close to “good”, having started off on the soft side of the official “good to soft”.
ARMORY (114 here, 119 previously) won this every bit as well as his form entitled him to, once the run of the race and the comfort of his victory is taken into account, held up in a close fourth of 4, brought a bit wide in the straight and quickening smartly (each of his last three furlongs was under 12.0s) to lead just inside the final 1f and forge clear. His third in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and second (to Sir Dragonet) in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley both justify a figure of 119/120, and that should earn him a Group 1 at some stage, 10f suiting him better than shorter (raced only on good going or softer).
SANGARIUS (108 here, 111 previously) is good enough to get placed in Group 2s but perhaps not up-to-strength Group 1s at present, though he is lightly raced for a 5-y-o and with a master trainer with such horses. Having tracked the pace, he was a bit short of room in the penultimate 1f then ran on without having much chance with the dominant winner. He has always been a slow strider (2.21 strides/second maximum, 2.02 minimum, here), despite being by Kingman, and is worth trying at 12f now he settles better.
PALAVECINO (106 here, 105 previously) is performing better than ever, but did get the run of things up front, headed just inside the final 1f and deserving of a slightly smaller sectional upgrade than the pair that beat him.
BANGKOK (102 here, 110 previously) was a bit below form, tracking the pace and in second turning in, only to find less than the others. His wins since the Classic Trial at Sandown in 2019 have come at listed level and in the Easter Classic.
