Farhh storms to Lockinge Stakes victory
IT HAS been a testing time for the Godolphin team in recent weeks but Farhh will have provided Sheikh Mohammed's organisation with a much need boost after sauntering to a hugely impressive win in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
Well positioned throughout by Silvestre de Sousa, Farhh was travelling ominously well with two furlongs to run and when asked for his effort he put immediate daylight between himself and his rivals. The well-backed favourite Declaration Of War looked to have a chance, but could not quicken and flattened out to finish fifth.
Farhh becomes the first Group 1 winner of 2013 for Cheveley Park Stud's flagbearer Pivotal, who has become a reliable source of top-level talent.
The 20-year-old son of Polar Falcon was bred and raced by the Thompsons of Cheveley Park Stud and excelled at sprint distances, winning the King's Stand Stakes and Nunthorpe Stakes for Sir Mark Prescott.
Pivotal, who commands a fee of £45,000, is capable of producing progeny that excel at both ends of the distance spectrum. His first crop yielded the Group 1-winning sprinter Kyllachy as well as Golden Apples, who won three Grade 1s at up to 1m2f, and Silvester Lady, who landed the Preis der Diana over 1m3f.
Other notable performers by the sire include last year's dual Group 1 winner Izzi Top.
Bred by Darley, Farhh has proven himself to be a top miler but it has been mooted that his best trip is ten furlongs and it would be no surprise to see him line up in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
There are a number of stamina influences in his pedigree. The five-year-old is out of the Lando mare Gonbrada, who won a pair of 1m4f Group 1 races in Germany and descends from a family that includes the Ascot Gold Cup hero Fame And Glory.
