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The lightly raced Okeechobee built on a strong reappearance second to land Gordon Richard Stakes at Sandown on Friday, a sixth for jockey Ryan Moore.

Trained by Harry Charlton, the gelding was a three-time winner as a three-year-old, before missing the whole of the 2023 campaign. He returned after a long lay-off with a good second behind Dubai Honour in the Listed Magnolia Stakes and continues to progress.

Tasman Bay and Artistic Star set a fair pace in the early stages of the ten furlong contest, with eventual winner Okeechobee settled in sixth. Ryan Moore began to edge left as the field hit the final three furlongs and the five-year-old loomed boldly up the outside with a furlong to run. He kept on well to take a head victory from Desert Hero, who made a late lunge, with Israr three-quarters of a length back in third. 

In an interview with ITV Racing, Ryan Moore said: "He's a lightly raced horse and they went a good gallop. I had to hold him together as we turned in for a while, he picked up well at the two (furlong marker). He'll improve, I think the trips right and he hasn't done a lot wrong this horse - they've done well to get him back and keep him well".

More to follow...