Farhh runs away with JLT Lockinge Stakes

Happy connections after the Farhh’s victory in the JLT Lockinge Stakes (left to right: Simon Crisford, Silvestre De Sousa and Saeed bin Suroor). Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

A scintillating performance from Farhh saw the Godolphin-owned horse scorch clear of his rivals in Newbury’s JLT Lockinge Stakes, race two in the QIPCO British Champions Series Mile division, to win by an easy four lengths.

Twice beaten by Frankel last season – by six lengths in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes and by seven lengths in the Juddmonte International – this performance was another testimony, as if one was needed, as to just how good Frankel was.

The view from Farhh’s connections beforehand was that the injury-prone colt would need the run and would be better over a mile and a quarter, but that proved wide of the mark.

One does have to bring some perspective to the performance, however. His main rival on ratings, Cityscape, ran a shocker to finish last, Beauty Parlour was a non-runner because of the fast ground and the much vaunted Declaration Of War failed to step up to the mark and was quickly beaten after his jockey asked him to quicken.

It was left to 80-1 shot, Sovereign Debt, to chase Farhh home with 16-1 shot Aljamaaheer in third, so the form may not be that strong.

Take nothing away from Farhh, however, as he won with great ease looking every bit a top class miler.

For Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor it was another great tonic following the Mahmood Al Zarooni steroids scandal and for jockey Silvestre De Sousa it was a first Group 1 race victory in Britain.

De Sousa said: "He definitely deserved to get his head in front.

“He did it in great fashion and travelled so sweetly.

“He got a bit lonely and I had to give him a slap behind the saddle, but he won very handily and will come on for the run."

Simon Crisford, racing manager to the Godolphin operation, said: "He won really well, it did surprise me as he has been a very difficult horse to train and Saeed has had to tip-toe very quietly with him.

“He’s really done that very impressively.

"It’s fantastic, particularly after all the problems we have had in the last few weeks.

"It’s a major boost to the stable."

On Royal Ascot plans for Farhh, where he is entered both for the one mile Queen Anne Stakes and the mile and a quarter Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Crisford said: "We were slightly concerned about the trip today but he did it so well that maybe we will go to the Queen Anne.

“We’ll see, we’ll weigh up both races, keep options open and see what Sheikh Mohammed wants to do.

"He deserved it, he kept on finishing second to the best horse of all time last year, so to see him win a Group 1 was fantastic."