3 minute read

John Gosden’s runner holds on by a neck in Listed heat

Kick On had to dig deep to claim the second win of his career as he gamely held off Walkinthesand to win the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

John Gosden’s colt won a maiden at Newmarket that worked out extremely well before stepping up to Group One company at Doncaster, where he finished sixth behind Magna Grecia in the Futurity Trophy.

Representing the connections who enjoyed such success last year with Roaring Lion, Oisin Murphy seemed keen to grab the rail and was able to dictate matters on the 2-1 shot.

With Aidan O’Brien’s Western Australia a disappointing fifth and Kadar under pressure from some way out, it was left to Richard Hannon’s lightly-raced Walkinthesand to throw down a challenge.

Having his third start, the runner-up came out of the race with plenty of credit, but went down by a neck.

Gosden said: “In the Group One at Doncaster over a mile he finished out nicely. I wanted to run him here and it was a good performance.

“The jockey is talking about the French 2000 Guineas and we will possibly look at that with him.”

Hannon was more than satisfied with Walkinthesand’s effort, but feels he could now excel over middle distances.

He said: “He obviously needs a trip now and he has got a few nice entries. I’m delighted with him and he has run a super race. We will see where we go from here.

“He is in the Dante and French Derby and things like that. He was just a bit out on his own and it appears today you want to be next to that rail.

“When he has worked, he has always not worked the best of the group. He has always worked like he wants a trip and a lot of good horses do that. He keeps finding a bit.”

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