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UK: Justineo sprints to Listed glory

3 minute read

Justineo put up a game front-running performance to take the Crown Hotel Bawtry Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster.

Roger Varian's four-year-old, third in Goodwood's King George Stakes on his last start, blazed the trail from the second the stalls open under a forceful William Buick ride.

Judge 'N Jury tried to keep tabs on the pacesetter from his rail draw as Justineo stormed down the centre of the track, but the 4-1 joint-favourite was not for stopping and blasted home to take the Listed spoils by a length and a half from fellow market leader Masamah. Judge 'N Jury was another head back in third.

Varian, whose horses are in outstanding form, said: "He had a little break after Goodwood. I was just hoping his fitness would last out. He's a real five-furlong horse and he's going the right way.

"It took the trainer far too long to work the trip out, but we've got there eventually. He'd run some good races in soft ground over six furlongs before and he's handled conditions well. He handles faster ground as well, so it's nice to have a horse that's versatile that way.

"He is in the Prix de l'Abbaye and he could run in that. We know now he's a very fast horse and that he should cope with whatever conditions prevail in France in early October, so he could be an Abbaye horse. I wouldn't have thought he'd have another run before that as he's been on the go since running in Dubai last winter."

Buick, who later won the concluding Berendsen Workwear Handicap with 7-1 chance Sir Pedro, said: "He's going to be a sprinter to be reckoned with."

Godolphin runner Out Of Bounds (11-4) made an excellent start to life in Britain with a fine galloping display in the Park Hill Hospital Conditions Stakes under Silvestre de Sousa.

Making his first appearance since being placed in a Meydan handicap in early March, the imposing chestnut handled conditions with aplomb and was good value for his half-length victory over even-money favourite Gatewood.

Winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "I am very happy with him. He ran on dirt in America, Tapeta in Dubai, and he has handled soft ground well. We have given him time and physically he has improved. I think he will be better for the race. There is no plan for him, but we will look for a better race."


At The Races
Race Replay: Scarbrough Stakes, Doncaster, Wednesday 11-09-13

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