Armory Proves Much Too Good In Chester Group 2

Armory (4c Galileo - After, by Danehill Dancer) produced an impressive turn of foot to justify favouritism in Friday’s Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester.

Last seen in October when chasing home Sir Dragonet (Camelot) in the Cox Plate, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was reunited with Ryan Moore, who previously partnered the bay to a Group double as a juvenile.

Tracking the leaders for much of the way, he switched right to challenge approaching the final furlong and immediately showed a dramatic change of gears. Running on strongly, he won by three lengths on the line.

“He's very talented,” Moore later commented. “I don't know what the plan but he's won a Group 2 there and he's already been second in a Cox Plate, he's entitled to take his place at a higher level.”

Now a four-time Group winner, Armory has also been placed at the highest level on five occasions. The Coolmore Stud homebred completed the first leg of an Irish-trained double on the card, with Dermot Weld’s Falcon Eight (Galileo) carrying top-weight to success in the valuable Chester Cup for owner/breeders Moyglare Stud Farm.