Ascot Mission completed for Central

Mission Central bounced back from a disappointing run last time out to win the inaugural running of the Qipco British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes at Ascot.

Having won two in a row earlier in the season, Aidan O’Brien dropped him down to five furlongs for the Flying Childers at Doncaster.

Taken off his feet there, he stepped back up to six furlongs for this and he had the race won from a long way out.

Christophe Soumillon sent him clear with well over a furlong to run and while he idled close home, the 5-1 chance held off the fast-finishing Ardisia by half a length with 11-10 favourite Words Of Truth back in third.

Mission Central is now a 5-1 shot with Coral for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, with O’Brien confirming Del Mar as the next port of call.

O’Brien said: “He’s a horse with a lot of ability and he was coming here on the way to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“He ran at Doncaster last time and the ground was a bit slow for him, but he loved that nice ground out there today and Christophe gave him a lovely ride.

“Christophe was very happy with him and said he’s very fast. He broke very well and he eased him back but he travelled very smoothly throughout the race.

“He’s fast, very quick and on the first day we ran we thought six would be far enough for him.

“We think the Breeders’ Cup will suit him. I think he’ll love going round the bend on nice ground at Del Mar, he’s a horse with a lot of ability and he takes his races well – he’s happier going racing than being at home.

“With a gelding you never know, he might get further next year but I would say he’s very fast.”

There was a change of fortune for William Haggas in the concluding race of the afternoon, as after a chastising afternoon both here at Ascot and in Australia earlier in the day, Crown Of Oaks (5-1) made every yard to claim the Balmoral Handicap in the hands of Tom Marquand.

Crown Of Oaks was drawn closest of all the runners to the stands side and Haggas admitted to feeling any hope of a winning finish to his day was blown when the action in the Queen Elizabeth II unfolded on the far rail.

However, this time around the field decided to track Marquand rather than track across the Ascot straight and the ever-improving three-year-old ultimately proved too tough a nut to crack.

Haggas said: “In the mile race there were 16 runners and the winner is drawn one, goes up the far rail and wins at 100-1.

“We thought drawn 23 we had no chance if we went across to the far side so just go straight and they all followed! Work that one out, but thank god they did as it’s been a punishing afternoon both here and this morning in Australia.

“We dropped back in trip and made a good bit of use of him over a stiff mile and he’s obviously enjoyed that.

“I think he’s pretty versatile and it was trainer error to go to Ireland last time (when third at the Curragh) but he’s come back well here. He’s done well and he’s obviously a very talented horse.

“You would hope he’s a bit better than a handicapper and if he’s not he’s in trouble as he’s won off 99 and he’ll get another rise.”