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John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist got back to winning ways when running on strongly to claim the Group 3 Space Blues Darley Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
A winner of the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood earlier in the season, Lead Artist proved no match for the seven-furlong Group 1 winning specialist Kinross at Doncaster last month, but with the extra two furlongs to suit, John and Thady Gosden's son of Dubawi ran on strongly to regain the winning thread.
The well-backed 5/4 market leader looked to be travelling much the best when the field of eight approached the final two furlongs, but under an all-action Kieran Shoemark drive, Lead Artist began to pick up momentum.
Shoemark's mount soon struck the front and stayed on strongly to land the spoils by a length and a half. Lead Artist's stablemate Peace Man produced a fine effort on his first start for over a year finishing a further two and a quarter lengths behind in third.
"He's done everything right and he came second to a very good horse who is a multiple Group 1 winner (Kinross) at Doncaster last time," said John Gosden of the 3/1 winner.
"He's done it well and beaten the Cambridgeshire winner, it was a solid race, and the ground was slightly on the testing side, but it was good and for this time of year we're lucky to have it.
"I'm delighted for the winner – and the other horse of ours, Peace Man, has been off for a year and has come back and finished third, so that was good.
"I think the door is open now to probably go a mile and a quarter with him next year. He has been slow to come to himself, but he has improved dramatically both physically and mentally and I think next year will be an exciting time for him.
"He's in the Bahrain Trophy and that could be a place we run before coming back next year."
Barry Mahon, racing manager for owners Juddmonte, added: "He's always been a nice colt that we felt could be high class.
"We bumped into Kinross last time, which was no mean feat, and he proved he is still a good horse when he was second at Longchamp in the Foret.
"I think he will continue to progress; a mile and a quarter will be within his compass and some better ground will be a bit more favourable. It gives us plenty of options."