Persica pounces under unstoppable Moore for Diomed gold

Persica again showed his liking for Epsom when coming with a late run under the irrepressible Ryan Moore in the Betfred Diomed Stakes.

Winner of a handicap at the Derby meeting last year, this time he was up in Group Three company, but that still represented a step down in class from his last race in the Lockinge.

While many expected Richard Hannon’s charge to make the running, Moore dropped him right out in last place and he came to beat Ice Max by three-quarters of a length as the 6-4 favourite, with the fast-finishing Docklands in third.

“He’s one of those horses who’s a pleasure to turn up to the races with and he’s a good-looking horse who belongs to the right people and he has a chance in any race,” said Hannon.

“Knowing his owners they’ll be thinking Japan Cup and Breeders’ Cup and something in Australia, but being honest we’ve always been happy to ply our trade around this level. We might make the occasional jump up on the back of this which I think makes sense, but he has a chance in any race if he gets his ground.

“Ryan said he struggled going down the hill a bit, but I didn’t have the guts to tell him he had been here last year and won!”

Karl Burke was happy to see the runner-up return to form and said: “He’s run a great race and I’m delighted but he was probably in front 100 yards too soon.

“He is a one-paced horse and he gets the trip but I don’t think he overdoes himself once he gets in front and he was ahead a good furlong and a half out.

“It’s great to get him back and I think he would have probably preferred it even softer.

“I think the winner just outstayed us in the last 100 yards and he’s a good horse. He’s a very strong horse and he does need a bit of cover to get into a rhythm.

“Everything went right today baring the leader just didn’t lead us another 100 yards and if he had done that I think we might have nicked it.”

Meanwhile, all roads lead to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot for Docklands after finishing second in the Group One last year.

Trainer Harry Eustace said: “It’s frustrating because he’s just at that level where everything has to go absolutely right for him, and it just didn’t quite.

“He just got in a pocket and he doesn’t quicken – he lengthens. The winner and the German horse (Georgraphy) just kept us in a bit longer than Richard (Kingscote) would have wanted, but I can’t give any real excuses as they’ve obviously gone a nice fair gallop and everyone’s had a chance.

“He’s a legend of a hose for us and that’s another good run. He’ll definitely go back to Ascot for the Queen Anne as that’s always been the plan, but this year it’s a much deeper race than last year.

“It’s probably the race of the week and he’ll go there sort of 20-1, but he loves the track. He could run his absolute guts out and finish fourth.”