3 minute read

Mighty Ulysses and Embesto were forced to share the honours in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury as the judge failed to split the pair as they hit the line together.

For the first time since it's institution in 2000, the Sovereign Stakes resulted in a dead-heat as both Mighty Ulysses and Embesto hit the line in unison following a terrific tussle up the Salisbury straight.

Roger Teal's Dancing Magic took the field along at a generous clip, with market principles Embesto and Mighty Ulysses both happy to take a lead. The pace began to lift as the quintet approached the final two furlongs and with Dancing Magic soon backing out of proceedings, it became apparent that this would become a dual between the two towards the fore of the betting. Mighty Ulysses arguably travelled the kinder of the pair, but Embesto, who was last seen finding only Nostrum too strong in the Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket, looked as though he was about to seize the initiative.

However, with first-time cheekpieces and the rail to help, Mighty Ulysses found plenty for pressure under an all-action Oisin Murphy and it seemed as though they had the race in the bag with fifty yards to run. But after being galvanised under David Egan, Embesto was not to be denied as Roger Varian's son of Roaring Lion stuck his neck out bravely to join Mighty Ulysses on the line.

Inevitably, the judge called for a photo finish as the pair hit the line together and after several minutes of pondering the photo, neither horse could be split and a dead-heat was called.

2020 Sovereign Stakes winner Regal Reality (6/1) briefly threatened to get involved entering the closing stages, but failed to bridge the gap on the front pair and finished half a length behind at the line.

It was a first success at Group 3 level for both Mighty Ulysses and Embesto, with the former taking a step forward from his reappearance fifth in the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot last month.