Native Khan, bought for 160,000gns by Vefa Ibrahim Araci, a good friend and supporter of Templeton Stud, at Tattersalls Craven breeze-up and therefore the second most expensive offspring of his sire Azamour sold at public auction, ground out a determined victory in Saturday's Solario Stakes at Sandown.

Ed Dunlop trained grey created quite a buzz when pulling well clear on his debut at Newmarket, but found things more demanding on his step up to Group Three company and was trapped behind horses with two of the seven furlongs remaining.

Once his jockey Eddie Ahern located a gap Native Khan picked up the bridle quite stylishly and while he did not stride right away, he appeared to be in control of dual winner Measuring Time, who finished half a length behind.

While there have been plenty of subsequent underachievers among the former winners of the Solario, horses like Raven's Pass and Oh So Sharp went on to great success and Dunlop is now considering a handful of Group One options for Native Khan.
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Lord Shanakill was made to work hard for his success in the Group 2 Betfair Cup, taking his Group-race tally to three.

Tom Queally's mount, sent off at 13-2, was delivered to win his race at the three pole, slowly grinding down 7-2 favourite Dalghar, who raced prominently and stayed on for third.

The Henry Cecil-trained winner overhauled the French raider and then battled gamely to repel a late challenge from the fast-finishing Cat Junior under Jamie Spencer by a head.

Speaking after the race, Mike Marshall, assistant to winning trainer Henry Cecil, said: "He really deserved that, the confidence booster we gave him at Chester last time did just the trick.

"He's done everything right since and looked a picture today. He came here in terrific form and we'd have been disappointed if he was not in the shake up."

Queally added: "It's good to get his head in front in what looked like a really decent affair. He's entitled to another crack at the top level, but that's not for me to say."

The son of Speightstown was bred by Vimal and Gill Khosla, British-based owner-breeders whose familiar blue, grey and yellow silks have been carried with distinction by Mac Love, Royal Destination and Tournedos, in partnership with Caroline Green, owner of Templeton Stud.

Lord Shanakill, bred by Gillian and Vimal Khosla and Templeton stud, was sent off the 8-13 favourite. He easily justified his short price with a drop in class when defeating Dunelight in the City Plate on 10th July.

The four-year-old, who started this season for new trainer Henry Cecil with a third-place finish in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, was running in Listed company for the first time - having been campaigned extensively at Pattern level - and his class told through the final furlong as Tom Queally pushed his mount out for a first victory since last season's Prix Jean Prat.

Georgebernardshaw was the last to break as the field left the stalls, and it was left to Dunelight and Bow Beaver to contest the lead.

The former eventually got the better of the argument, with Bow Beaver bustled along fairly early before dropping away turning for home. Read more...