RACE REPORT

Risk Seeker: 2000 b c ex Robertet (Roberto)
Sagaro Stakes, Ascot, 2m, £29,000, soft

1st

 Risk Seeker

 11/2

 8.12

2nd

 Dusky Warrier

 16/1

 8.13

3rd

 Millenary

 3/1f

 9.4

Distances: 18, 11

Time: 3m 49.97s (slow 20.57s)

Ran: 13

Trainer: E Lellouche

Jockey: D Boeuf

Owner: Ecurie Wildenstein

 A race to forget on a lot of fronts, with the effect of the soft ground on horses being prepared for the Ascot Gold Cup as the ultimate aim being very pronounced. Only the race fit Risk Seeker and Dusky Warbler ran right to the line.
As such, the form will be highly misleading, especially as the Gold Cup goes, but nothing should be taken away from Risk Seeker, who obviously enjoyed the sounder pace set in England in staying races and who positively enjoys soft ground.
He had to be niggled along before the home straight on the heels on the front runners but, when pulled out to make his run, lengthened well. While many were legless in the final furlong, Dusky Warbler was not wilting. He is a solid Listed performer and, in beating him, Risk Seeker confirmed his Group status.
Being a relatively lightly-raced four-year-old stepping on to the Gold Cup circuit, Risk Seeker can improve his Group 3 winning status when getting a true test of stamina. His jockey had to rein him in to pull up, suggesting that he would have galloped on further. He is not in the Gold Cup but the stable have a contender in Westerner, who beat him out of sight in the Prix Royal Oak last autumn.

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