3 minute read

John and Thady Gosden’s Audience (14/1) made his return to the track worthwhile when producing an all-the-way win in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes.

The Cheveley Park-owned gelding hadn't been seen since bolting up in a Leicester handicap back in October last year.

He looked highly promising when landing a seven-furlong novice event on his debut at the Rowley Mile course in October 2021 but never really managed to live up to steep expectations after that and returned the beaten favourite on three of his next five starts.

It's paid to be towards the fore on Newmarket's July course over the last few days and that certainly seemed to be the case once more as Robert Havlin always had his mount up in the van towards the far side. The field of six split somewhat into two groups with Pogo towards the head of affairs on the nearside and there appeared to be little between them at the three-furlong marker.

All six looked to have something of a chance with a furlong and a half to run but it soon became apparent that Audience was still doing best towards the far side. Aldaary (5/2) looked to come with a run towards the centre of the track but was never able to get on terms whilst Jumby, who impressed when winning the John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock last month, emerged the danger towards the near side rail.

The pair were split across the width of the track, but Audience was always keeping up the gallop on the far side and despite drifting left-handed late on, the gelded son of Iffraaj was nicely clear at the line to score by a comfortable two-lengths.

Charlie Hills' Pogo (3/1) was back in third with the 5/2 market leader Aldaary fading into fourth.

Trainer John Gosden said: "It is all down to Leah Mapston, who looks after him and rides him every day. She understands the horse and she is more to do with this horse winning than the trainer – and the jockey, of course. But she has done a wonderful job.

"He has got a lot of talent, he was not right in the spring, he went off behind and we couldn't get him quite where we wanted him, but he's come right for a lovely race like this.

"The hood helps him a lot. It is very useful for a horse like this, as he can live a little on the edge.

"He is in a race like the Lennox [Stakes, Goodwood], but I think he enjoyed this race today on a straight track. We'll see. We will give him a couple of nice engagements. Ryan [Moore] rode him at Ascot last year and he said this horse has really got something, but he will need a little working out.

"Rab went up that far side this morning and it is completely fresh ground. That's a little bit of knowing your track.

"Seven furlongs is very much his trip."