3 minute read
Bateel struck for French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with a smooth success in the Betway Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock.
Richard Kingscote showed patience in the saddle as he had to wait for a gap to appear in the straight, as it was apparent the four-year-old filly was going well.
Henry de Bromhead's Irish raider Island Remede took the field along with Dubka and Ajman Princess on her heels, and Bateel pounced when the leader began to fade.
Leading inside the final furlong the former David Simcock-trained 2-1 favourite justified strong market support to win by a length and a half from Dubka. Ajman Princess was third, a further two and three-quarter lengths away.
Kingscote said: "We going there nicely and every gap was easy to take then, the orders were to get her settled and down the back she was beautiful. We went a nice, even gallop, which suits, and they said she just loves this ground and they'd been waiting for it.
"It's soft ground and spot on for us. A big thank you to connections for letting me ride her."
Johnnie Peter-Hoblyn, racing manager for Bateel's owners, Al Asayl Bloodstock, said: "We've been waiting for this ground for a long time.
"We moved her to France from David Simcock for soft ground and ironically we end up at Haydock.
"On this ground she's a very good filly and all the good mile-and-a-half races will be open to her, but we'll pick and choose when the ground is right.
"The Prix de Pomone is a big target in the autumn and hopefully she'll be back at Ascot on Champions Day, she ran there last year - the ground was rock hard but every other year it has been soft.
"We're now beginning to see the best of her and there's more to come."