Western Hymn outduels Arab Spring in Brigadier Gerard

Chanced on ground firmer than ideal in Thursday's Brigadier Gerard (Eng-G3)

at Sandown, Western Hymn (High Chaparral) overcame that issue to take his record

over this track and 10-furlong trip to three-for-three having won last year's

Classic Trial (Eng-G3) and the Gordon Richards S. (Eng-G3) on his seasonal bow

April 24.

At three, the bay's highlight had come when annexing the Prix Eugene Adam

(Fr-G2) in authoritative fashion on a testing surface at Maisons-Laffitte in

July and after subsequent fourth placings in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Fr-G2)

at Deauville in August and Ascot's Champion S. (Eng-G1) in October, the decision

was made to geld.

Sitting with only one behind early as Ryan Moore set out to use the stamina

of the favorite Arab Spring (Monsun), Western Hymn traveled smoothly to that

rival and into a slight lead passing the quarter-pole. Needing encouragement

from James Doyle to impose himself, it was only in the last stride that he

managed to overcome that John Porter S. (Eng-G3) winner as the outsider

Niceofyoutotellme (Hernando) stayed on in eye-catching style.

"I told James he was spot on for the race, but not to make his move until

inside the two as he thinks he has done it all and has a look at the crowd when

he gets to the front," trainer John Gosden explained. "He's a lovely character

and would probably have won by a half-length if he'd waited longer. The second

is a lovely horse who set a true pace and they were both carrying penalties.

"I was particularly delighted with Eagle Top (Pivotal) (in fourth), because

he wants a big field with cover and Frankie (Dettori) said he wanted to race

from six out. He was very fresh and needed it, but was in great shape after the

race and he'll go to the Hardwicke S. ([Eng-G2] at Royal Ascot June 20) and if

the ground is reasonable Western Hymn will go for the Prince of Wales's S.

([Eng-G1] June 17)."

With all the big cats away from Sandown's Henry II S. (Eng-G3), Vent de Force

(Hurricane Run) took full advantage to creep into the June 18 Gold Cup (Eng-G1)

scene with an all-the-way first black-type success under Richard Hughes.

After winning the 14-furlong Melrose H. at York's Ebor meeting in August, the

bay finished second in the Prix Chaudenay (Fr-G2) over an extra furlong at

Longchamp on Arc weekend and was then 11th on testing ground in the latter

venue's Prix Royal-Oak (Fr-G1) later in October. No match for Mizzou (Galileo)

but clear second-best when staying on from behind in Ascot's Sagaro S. (Eng-G3)

on his comeback April 29, he was able to dictate here in a change of tactics and

after seeing off all challengers in midstretch was gone beyond reach by the time

Trip To Paris (Champs Elysees) was extricated from his pocket.

"He did it the hard way from the front and that proves you can ride him where

you like," trainer Hughie Morrison commented. "Hopefully that will put him spot

on for Ascot and that's where he'll go, providing he doesn't have any blips in

the next few weeks."

Forced to sit out the Craven S. (Eng-G3) and therefore forego a tilt at the

Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) after disappointing in his preparatory work last

month, Consort (Lope de Vega) showed the benefit of Sir Michael Stoute's

infamous patience when impressing on his return in the Heron S. on Thursday.

Shaken up out of the gates by Moore to race in a pocket behind the leaders,

the gray, who had impressed many when winning a seven-furlong maiden at

Newmarket on debut in September, was lit up exiting the back straight but had to

wait for the gap. When that came with  1 1/2 furlongs remaining after "TDN

Rising Star" White Lake (Pivotal) had swooped on Secret Brief (Shamardal),

Consort picked up with a vengeance to inhale that pair in the last 150 yards en

route to a convincing win.

"He just took a long time to come to himself in the spring and it was only

last week that he did an impressive piece of work," commented his trainer who

was recording a 10th success in this race. "I like the way he quickened and he's

done nothing wrong on the racecourse.

"Hopefully, he'll have a Royal Ascot engagement but I'd like a word with Ryan

and let's see what the race does for him. I thought coming here tonight that he

might be a mile and a quarter horse, as he's not an impressive home worker, but

he's pretty effective over a mile. It could either be the St James's Palace S.

([Eng-G1] June 16) or the Tercentenary S. ([Eng-G3] June 18)."

King of Rooks (Acclamation), third to Steady Pace (Dark Angel) going five

furlongs at Ascot first up May 9, graduated by six lengths stretching out one

panel at Newbury last time May 15, and punched his ticket to Ascot's Royal meet

with another demolition job in his black-type bow in the National S.

The bay was sharp from stall three and seized an immediate lead along the

fence. Shaken up approaching the final eighth, he exhibited a smart turn of foot

to quickly put distance on toiling rivals and was in splendid isolation when

stumbling slightly nearing the line to continue the Hannon-stable dominance in

this straight dash.

"He had a good draw, which is very important here at Sandown, and I think he

got the run of the race," said winning trainer Richard Hannon Jr. "He traveled

lovely, did it well and I'm very pleased. I was disappointed with his first run,

but he's a very talented, speedy 2 year-old.

"He could go for the Coventry S. ([Eng-G2] June 16) or the Norfolk S.

([Eng-G2] June 18), but I don't know which yet. Right now he looks a Norfolk

horse, but there's still three weeks to Royal Ascot so we'll see."

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