El Caballo (7-2) came out on top in a fine battle to the line with recent Chester Listed winner Flaming Rib (11-2) to land a superb victory in the Cazoo Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park.
Karl Burke's three-year-old made it six straight victories in the Group Two contest and booked his ticket to Royal Ascot and a crack at the Group One Commonwealth Cup on Thursday, June 16.
El Caballo is now a 7-1 chance with William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfred and Betfair behind general 5-1 favourite Perfect Power for the Group One six-furlong sprint at the Royal meeting.
Burke won both the Sandy Lane and Commonwealth Cup with Quiet Reflection in 2016 and he is hopeful he has another three-year-old with a big chance of the double.
Under Clifford Lee, the Havana Gold colt had only narrowly won his most recent start in a Conditions Stakes contest on the all-weather at Newcastle on Good Friday.
On that occasion he was more prominent and got back up to triumph after being headed. But he was more restrained this time, travelling superbly just off the lead. He came through to challenge Flaming Rib, who is trained by Hugo Palmer, who took over at former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire this summer.
It was a fine battle to the line, but El Caballo always seemed to have just enough and he prevailed by a neck. Wings Of War (12-1) was a further length-and-a-quarter back in third.
Burke's Quiet Reflection is the only horse to win the Sandy Lane and follow up in the Commonwealth Cup when she scored in 2016. Sands Of Mali and Harry Angel both finished second at Royal Ascot in 2017 and 2018 after Sandy Lane success and Hello Youmzain was third in 2019, having won at Haydock beforehand.
But the Yorkshire-based trainer is looking forward to another crack at the Group One next month.
Burke said: "He is a very good horse. He is a tough horse. And if you go back and watch the Good Friday race, he didn't want to be in front or upside. But he led from three furlongs and that is a hard thing to do and quicken again like he did at Newcastle.
"I knew with a lead and relaxing early, he would pick up and he really battled hard. I was happy with a bit of rain as he stays seven.
"I would think he will be leading player (in the Commonwealth Cup). Looking at it, it will probably be different ground at Ascot, but as long as it isn't rattling I will be happy. I said this morning whatever wins this race - it looked a very competitive race on paper - they would certainly be one of the favourites for Ascot. And he will be that."
Winning jockey Lee added: "He is a brilliant horse. He was good last year and is improving a lot this year.
"I jumped trying to track the leaders. There was a lot of pace in the race and I was a little outpaced early on. But then it came good from two and a half (furlongs) down and he did it nicely. He suited this ground he has got a knee action but I think he is pretty much versatile regards the ground."
"It would be great to get a decent ride like this in a Group One (at Royal Ascot)."
Clive Cox's Whoputfiftyinyou (6-1) ran out a smart winner of the Cazoo Silver Bowl Handicap and will head to Royal Ascot for the Britannia Handicap next month.
The three-year-old son of Twilight Son was unbeaten in his three previous starts and maintained that unblemished record stepped up to a mile for the first time.
Under David Probert, Whoputfiftyinyou had to recover from a slip on the turn for home, but he looks a progressive miler following this latest success.
He came to challenge 13-8 favourite Mighty Ulysses on the run to the line and outbattled his rival to score cosily by half-a-length. The pair were well clear of the field with Outgate five-and-a-half lengths back in third and Oh Herberts Reign (18-1) a further two-and-a-quarter-lengths further adrift in fourth.
Hughie Morrison's Sagramar was the last horse to win at Haydock and take the Britannia at the Royal meeting as well in 2011. Cox won. the Silver Bowl with Crack On Crack On, in the same blue and yellow-halved colours of owners Paul and Claire Rooney in 2019. But he could only finish 13th in the Britannia afterwards. Connections, though, are hopeful Whoputfiftyinyou will do much better in Berkshire.
Cox said: "We were very impressed. We were concerned enough when he did slip on the turn. He just lost his footing and he dropped the bridle totally for a bit. But he is clearly very talented. We have always witnessed that impressive turn of foot. But he had to do that. He probably got there easily in the end. I was astonished and I am really pleased.
"He is four from four so he hasn't caught us unawares. He is very laid-back and that is a very good characteristic to have when they are that laid-back, he has just done what he had to do. It wasn't a surprised at all but in the meantime he has coped astonishingly well and this a big step to take today. I am delighted for (owners) Paul and Claire Rooney.
"We will keep taking it a step at a time and he is going the right way. I would say he is a Britannia horse hopefully. That would have been our thoughts before today and there is no reason to change that. After that we'll see."
Winning jockey Probert, who had also won earlier at Haydock on Valley Forge, added: "He just lost his footing for a stride. It was pretty loose ground. But he regathered himself pretty nicely. He didn't travel the best for a lot of the race considering he was trying the mile for the first time, but the further he went up the straight the better he was going.
"I was kind of in no doubt he was going to get there in the last furlong. He got the mile really well and took some pulling up. He is a horse with an engine and being by Twilight Son he is not short of a bit of speed.
"He probably on loose ground today, took him by surprise, but it was a smart performance."
Valley Forge (4-1 favourite) came late to coller long-time leader Golden Flame (15-2) in the shadow of the post to win the Cazoo Hell Nook Handicap.
The Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old, who had won the prestigious Melrose Handicap at York last season, was sent off the well-backed favourite. And under David Probert he justified the odds stepped up to two miles for the first time.
Mark Johnston’s previous course winner Golden Flame adopted the front-running role with Just Hubert close up in second, Haveyoumissedme third with Godolphin's Bandinelli not far away for much of the first half of the race.
The eventual winner was tucked away in the chasing pack. But when Golden Flame kicked for home on the turn, Valley Forge was the main challenger trying to close the gap. Initially the leader, under Joe Fanning, appeared to set to hold on. But Valley Forge picked up and went on to score by a head. Alright Sunshine (16-1) was a further length-and-a-quarter back in third with Haveyoumissedme (11-2) another neck away in fourth.
Valley Forge holds an entry in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle next month. And having shown his ability over this two-mile distance could be a force in the top staying handicaps.
Winning jockey Probert said: "He travelled really well in the race and just going through the motions. But the whip went kind of missing for a second and I had to regather him up. He collected himself well, he is well-balanced and travelled well. He has seen the extra two furlongs out really well today.
"He has shown previously he has ability by winning the Melrose last year and conditions were not too much against him. He is a lovely horse and has progressed well. So hopefully there is more to come from him.
"Now he has seen the trip out well there is a few more opportunities opening up for him."
Katie Scott's Colinton (11-2) battled back after being headed to land the opener, the Cazoo Florida Handicap.
Colinton and Gustav Holst went straight to the front and set much of the early running. But on the turn for home, when the former fell away Colinton tried to go on under Sam James. But Carlos Felix (11-2) came out of the pack and looked to challenge and as one point appeared to have seen off Colinton.
But the four-year-old gelded son of Red Jazz, who was having his seventh race of 2022, battled back to get his head in front on the run to the line.
Colinton went on to land a fourth win of the year by a length from Carlos Felix. The 4-1 favourite Songo had been in rear for much of the 1m4f contest and stayed on late but he was a further three-and-a-half lengths back in third with L'Enclume (12-1) another length adrift in fourth.
Scottish trainer Scott said: "He’s a super tough little cookie. He’s gone up 20lbs in the handicap this year, so today was a case of find out if he’s a Saturday horse or whether he’s going to have to come back down and he’s done it in fine style.
"He’s such a tough cookie and Sam (James) has given him a great ride.
“I think he’s caught his owners a bit by surprise as he’s not really bred to stay so he was probably handicapped for the wrong trip, which left him well treated when he moved into the staying division.
"I think his confidence has just grown with every run, he’s not the easiest ride sometimes and he’s been a bit naughty in his races but he’s just getting more professional with every run.
“We didn’t expect him to win that so we’ll go home and see what the handicapper says on Tuesday and make a plan for him.”
