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Iberian enters Classic picture following Champagne Stakes success

3 minute read

Charlie Hills looks to have a smart prospect on his hands after Iberian dazzled on Doncaster's Town Moor.

Trainer : Charlie Hills
Trainer : Charlie Hills Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The striking son of Lope De Vega had already shown plenty in two starts to date having readily landed a Newbury novice event on debut, before finishing a somewhat unlucky third in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Just five went to post for this juvenile Group 2 prize, with Richard Hannon's unbeaten Rosallion sent off a shade of odds on to follow up his impressive victory in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot last month.

However, it was Charlie Hills' Iberian that would come home best. Sunway, who finished behind Rosallion at Ascot last time, led the quintet along for much of the seven-furlong contest. Iberian quickened up best with a furlong and a half to run and although the 4/5 market leader Rosallion attempted to go with the Charlie Hills-trained runner, he was unable to match the winner's superior turn of foot, who went for a comfortable two-length success under Tom Marquand.

Sunway (6/1) battled on well to fill the runner-up spot with Rosallion back in third.

Speaking with ITV Racing, winning trainer Charlie Hills said: "His work had been really impressive at home leading up to this race, but you always want to see it on the track, and I think he did that today,"

"When the grounds a bit quicker you might see a better horse."

"He was very professional, travelled really well through the race and has a good turn of foot as well. He's a very exciting horse to have in the yard. We'll aim him at the Dewhurst now."

Marquand, who will be hoping to land the feature Classic later on the card in royal colours, added: "He was great, switched off beautifully and that turn of foot to go and kill the race at the furlong pole was pretty magnificent. He's a horse having only his third career start, so you'd hope there'd be more to come."

Paddy Power halved Iberian in price to 8/1 for the Darley Dewhurst at Newmarket, while the same firm make him 20/1 from 40/1 for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at the same track next May.


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