Rob Hornby celebrates first Group 1 on Scope to cap perfect weekend for Beckett

It is doubtful there is a better-named horse in training than Prix Royal-Oak hero Scope, who put jockey Rob Hornby up in Group 1 lights for the first time and gave Ralph Beckett and owner-breeder Julian Richmond-Watson a winter to dream about what his raw chestnut frame might become next season.

Hornby rode a race of immense maturity, utilising his inside draw for most of the race before angling into clean air, never asking Scope to fully commit until the ultra-tough Skazino had already thrown down his challenge.

"He's been running really well all year, and stamina is the thing," said Hornby. "He deserved that, I'm pleased for him, the horse is a real trier and I've got on well with him."

Scope finished a never-nearer sixth in the St Leger after stumbling out of the stalls, before taking a step forward when running away with the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot this month.

He becomes the fifth three-year-old to win the Royal-Oak in the last seven years, completing a Group 1 double in as many days for Beckett after Angel Bleu landed the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.

"I wasn't expecting any of this," Beckett said of his weekend success. "I thought the horse yesterday would probably win but I wasn't sure about today, so it's just fantastic."

While the Leger may still be a source of regret, Beckett chose to concentrate on how far the son of Teofilo has come after enduring a difficult summer in the wake of his third to subsequent Derby winner Adayar at Lingfield.

"He had a tough mid-part of the year and nothing really went right for us at home," said Beckett. "It was a huge run in the Great Voltigeur off the back of his preparation. I was very reticent about his chances of running any kind of a race that day. So for him to run as well as he did that day, I was absolutely thrilled.

"The Leger is the one that got away because he missed the gates, which was really unfortunate. And then he was impressive at Ascot, and he has been again today."

Scope is out of a half-sister to Richmond-Watson's 2008 Oaks winner Look Here and Beckett felt he might have another Classic winner on his hands at the start of this season, though he admitted it was Doncaster rather than Longchamp that was foremost in his mind.

He said: "At the beginning of the year I thought this horse might be a St Leger horse and his form has worked out sensationally all along, going back to Mojo Star as a two-year-old and the Lingfield Derby Trial.

Rob Hornby debriefs Ralph Beckett and Julian Richmond-Watson after the Prix Royal-OakCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"It's a great family and it was always going to throw up another really good one at some point. It just happened to be him. That's what we should concentrate on and thank our lucky stars."

Skazino travelled well into the straight and gave his usual gutsy display, but was unable to match Scope in the final furlong.

"Once again he's run a great race but it's possible a tough season was just telling on him late on, because he wasn't quite as decisive as usual," said Skazino's trainer Cedric Rossi.

"I'd say 300 metres out the jockey thought he had the winner, but he just wasn't able to go with him late on. After a good long break he'll be back for more next year."

Search For A Song picked up in the straight but her run flattened out to finish fourth, a length and a half adrift of Glycon and just ahead of fellow Irish challenger Zero Ten.

Trainer Dermot Weld said of Search For A Song: "She ran well but the ground was just a bit soft for her up the home straight."

Full result of the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp

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