3 minute read
Former Derby hope returns to winning ways back in trip after break.
One-time Classic hope Uncle Bryn got back on the winning trail after a front-running masterclass from Frankie Dettori at Ascot.
Impressive in winning twice on the all-weather last year, connections spent the winter months dreaming of a potential tilt at Derby glory.
A comeback defeat at Epsom in April dented those hopes, while an even more disappointing performance in the Dante at York the following month ultimately led to him being gelded and given a break.
Making his first appearance in almost four months in the National Racehorse Week Handicap, Uncle Bryn was a 5-2 shot – and after setting his own fractions in the lead, he responded generously to Dettori's urgings to prevail by three-quarters of a length from Walhaan.
Thady Gosden, who trains Uncle Bryn in partnership with his father John, told Sky Sports Racing: "He was getting a bit lonely there late on, but he ran a great race.
"He was travelling strongly enough in the first part, but he switched off in front and finished out well."
A tilt at the bet365 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket could be next on Uncle Bryn's agenda, with Gosden adding: "He's in the Cambridgeshire, so we'll talk to the owners and work out where they want to go and see how is after the race."
The son of Sea The Stars was completing a double on the card for the Gosden-Dettori combination, with Saga earlier making it third time lucky in the colours of the Queen.
Runner-up on his first two starts at Newmarket, the Invincible Spirit colt was the 2-5 favourite to open his account in the Charbonnel Et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes.
Always travelling well at the head of affairs, the Invincible Spirit colt knuckled down when push came to shove to see off the challenge of Koy Koy by a length and a quarter.
"The first two times he ran he met two good ones. We've managed to find a nice, easy race for him and he's a wonderful customer – very laid back," said Dettori.
"This should do his confidence good and we'll look forward now and see what we can do."
Saga holds an entry in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on September 25, but it remains to be seen whether he will take up that Group Two engagement.
John Warren, the Queen's racing manager, said: "He's an incredibly laid-back horse who doesn't overdo himself.
"We'll see what John and Thady think when they get him home and how they compare him with some of the others.
"He might be a difficult horse to read off the back of today – there might be some more improvement in him.
"Whether he's ready for that leap (Royal Lodge), we'll see what happens after he does a bit of work with a few testing companions at home."
Khanjar (5-4) also delighted favourite backers with a narrow victory in the Hoof It For PRD British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Trained by William Haggas and ridden by Jim Crowley, the Kodiac colt had just enough in reserve to hold the fast-finishing Stubble Field at bay by a neck.
Maureen Haggas, assistant to her husband, said: "That was great – he stuck on well.
"I thought he moved well on this ground, but I don't think he's ground dependent.
"It looks like his stride is his strength."
Crowley doubled up aboard 9-1 shot Twaasol, who led home a one-two for Owen Burrows in the Dash Charity Classified Stakes – seeing off better-fancied stablemate Ajyaall by three-quarters of a length.
"This horse (Twaasol) won a couple last year and then we sort of lost him a bit in truth," said Burrows.
"He'd shown glimpses this year that he retains his form. We've given him a bit of time and stepped him up to a mile and Jim said he battled right the way to the line and got the trip great.
"It's lovely to see him back in the winner's enclosure – I'm chuffed to bits."
The rider made it a treble on the Patrick Owens-trained 2-1 favourite Prontissimo in the Bateaux London Handicap.
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