Group 3 Kicks Off Super Saturday For Camelot

Hosier (6g Camelot - Time Ahead, by Spectrum) kicked off a super Saturday for Camelot when gaining his first Stakes success in the Group 3 James Squire Premier’s Cup at Randwick.

Racing over ten furlongs, Mark Minervini’s recent recruit was settled in midfield by Jason Collett and produced a strong challenge with a furlong and a half left to race. Running on well, he led by a length and a quarter on the line, as Military Mission (Mastercraftsman) claimed runners-up honours.

Success was never in doubt for Collett, the rider later revealed, “I just felt like I had control and it was a matter of making sure I didn't go too early. A long way out but when they travel like that you question how long the fuse is. So you want to be holding as long as you can and he had enough there.”

Bred by Robert Lanigan, Hosier began his career with Joseph O’Brien.

At Deauville later that afternoon, a son of Camelot led early trade when bringing a final bid of €520,000 from Sackville Donald on behalf of Juddmonte Farms.

After outbidding Godolphin for the prize colt, Juddmonte’s Simon Mockridge said, “He’s an incredibly good-looking horse. He’s the kind of horse that you could look at as a nice three-year-old and maybe even go to the Derby with. It’s a long way between here and there, but that’s the kind of horse we’re looking for.”

“We have had luck with Camelot,” Mockridge continued. “Blue Stocking came a little undone in the Irish Oaks, but she ran a great race. Camelot is a good stallion who does well and is a very good-looking horse.”

The son of Camelot was offered by breeder Haras de Bourgeauville, which is run by Philip Lybeck with his parents Amelie and Robert Ehrnrooth. “He's been very popular the whole five days he's been here,” Lybeck explained after the sale. “It was two superpowers involved in the bidding and we are delighted that we could breed a horse good enough to attract them.”

Meanwhile, over at Newbury, the Roger Teal-trained Dancing Gemini (2c Camelot - Lady Adelaide, by Australia) produced a smart performance in the seven furlong maiden.

Lewis Edmunds steered the bay to a length and three quarter win and the winning trainer later confirmed that there is more to come from the Fishdance Ltd homebred. “Dancing Gemini is probably one of the nicest two-year-olds already,” Teal said. “We don't get many but we know when we've got a good horse and I've got a lot of butterflies about this horse. He's still a tad green but he went away nicely and he was very professional.”

Danny Tudhope was also complimentary of Prepschool (2c Camelot - Free To Roam, by Bushranger), who he partnered to win the mile novice stakes at Ripon by over three lengths.

“Prepschool is a nice type,” Tudhope commented. “He ran a nice race at Epsom last time - the extra furlong helped him today. He's a real stamp of a horse.”

Trained by Michael Bell for the Heatherdonians, the son of Camelot was bred by Pitchford Bloodstock.