WANTAGE trainer Henry Candy plans to give Limato a longer break between races after his stable star was foiled in his bid to land the Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.
Although beaten only half a length into fourth in the Group 2 seven-furlong contest as Breton Rock swooped late to spring a 50-1 shock, Candy felt the five-year-old failed to finish off his race – 17 days after he claimed second place in the July Cup at Newmarket.
“I think we ran probably a week too soon,” said the Kingston Warren handler.
“He’s always wanted a long time between races in the past and I thought as an old boy now he might be a bit stronger, but he didn’t quite see the race out.
“He just wants freshening up and probably wants four weeks between races.
“He seemed absolutely fine, but I think we have to make it a hard-and-fast rule not to run him too quick again.
“I think we’ll go to Chantilly again for the Prix de la Foret – he loves it there.
“He might just have lost a yard of pace, but over seven furlongs when he’s fresh and well he’s as good as ever.”
Candy enjoyed better fortune at Bath where Madeleine Bond completed a hat-trick when taking a mile handicap by a length and three-quarters, with apprentice Nicola Currie on board.
Miss Inga Sock notched her fourth success this season for Blewbury trainer Eve Johnson Houghton with a last-gasp nose verdict over Gold Merlion in a mile and a quarter apprentice handicap at Epsom.
Frank Bridge, meanwhile, recorded his third success this term for the Woodway handler with a runaway four and a half lengths triumph under Charlie Bishop in a mile handicap at Sandown.
Bishop was also on board as Ya Jammeel completed a hat-trick of wins for West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon by repeating his convincing last-time out mile-and-a-half-handicap victory at Epsom.
It was the first of three winners in as many days for Channon with Helvetian getting off the mark in a maiden auction stakes at Bath, before Jazeel opened his account in a similar contest at Lingfield.
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