3 minute read
Champion jockey William Buick continued his rich vein of form in Sandown’s opener as Equality (7/1) blitzed his rivals in the Group 3 Coral Charge.
Charlie Hills' contender had excuses when struggling in Group company earlier in the season and arrived fresh off the back of a clearcut success in a Windsor handicap a month ago.
The pace can often be frantic on the five-furlong straight track at Sandown, so it was a surprise to see William Buick allowed to dictate matters out in front in what appeared a leisurely tempo.
Existent ploughed a lone passage down the near side under Jim Crowley and although he looked to be in contention at the halfway stage, it soon became apparent at the main bulk of the field on the more conventional far side were the group to focus on.
The gelded son of Equiano always looked to have matters under control entering the final furlong and stretched nicely clear for a taking one-and-a-half-length victory.
Ed Walker's filly Makarova (10/1) won the battle for the second spot with the William Haggas-trained Chipchase Stakes winner Tiber Flow (6/1) finishing back in third.
Annaf, who ran a career-best when third in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last start looked unlucky not to finish closer than fourth having struggled for a clear passage for much of the final two furlongs.
The 3/1 favourite Marshman disappointed back in eighth.
It was a first success in the race since Hills trained Battaash to land the contest back in 2007 and the Hungerford-based trainer said: "He is a horse that I've always thought is a Group performer, but he has just taken a long while to get to where we are.
"Looking at some of the family, he is a half-brother to Badri, and he has started having a good time of it so maybe it is just a slow maturing family.
"He is a horse in form, and I was delighted with his win at Windsor last time. It has always been the plan to come here since then.
"We had a nice draw, and he pinged the gates. In the past he has been slow from the gates. It probably wasn't the plan to be in front, but he didn't seem to get taken on too much which did suit him.
"He travelled really well, and he is a good sprinter. He is a horse that I've always really liked but he has just taken a while to get to where we are now.
"He has won by taken a lead before and I think he can be ridden any way. We will certainly look at the King George at Goodwood next time.
"We've been really fortunate with them (sprinters) but I've just been sent the horses to do that. It is great.
A return to Group 2 company now awaits Equality, who finished 11th on his previous try at that level in the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock Park in May, as a tilt at the King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is seemingly on the agenda according to Hills.
He added: "That little bit of rain before the off probably helped him. I would be worried about very fast ground, which is unlike his dad as he liked it like a road.
"William has just said he loves to get his toe in there.
"The King George has been a lucky race in the past for me and I think that is where we should go with this fellow."
Paddy Power cut the winner to 16/1 from 100/1 for Nunthorpe success on the Knavesmire next month.
