'He's definitely the best I've had' - Raasel makes it eight wins for Appleby

Mick Appleby hailed Raasel as the best horse he has trained as the ferociously fast sprinter landed the Group 3 Coral Charge.

The sky is the limit for the five-year-old son of Showcasing as far as the Rutland trainer is concerned, with a trip to Goodwood next on the agenda before a tilt at the highest level.

"I was more worried about the track than the opposition," said Appleby. "It's a weird old track, this five-furlong course, but he got the job done and that's all that matters. He's improving and I still think there's more to come."

Appleby has handled the likes of Group 3 scorers Danzeno and Hakam in the past but is sure the 10,000gns Shadwell castoff, who has won eight times in 13 starts for the trainer, is the best he has had.

"We've had to iron his problems out but he's kept progressing since," the trainer added. "More than likely he'll go for the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood and he's got options after that.

"He's in the Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh and the Abbaye is also a possibility if the ground is okay. He's definitely the best I've had."

Chris Dixon, who fronts the Horse Watchers winning syndicate along with brother Martin, had an impossible task of trying to stay cool as he analysed the contest from Sandown on Racing TV, after which he greeted Raasel in the winner's enclosure.

"It's amazing and he's a proper horse," said Dixon. "Mick's said he's the best he's had for a while and we kind of knew. He's so quick and it'll be Goodwood next and then one of the Group 1s."

Ascot redemption

The agony of a missed opportunity at Royal Ascot was somewhat eased for the connections of Sinjaari, who kissed goodbye to handicaps with victory in the Coral Challenge.

Sinjaari has been reinvented as a classy miler by Roger and Harry Charlton and, having come from well off the pace to storm into fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup last month, continued his upwards trajectory under Kieran Shoemark.

"We've always treated him like he needs to be delivered late and we were sort of riding him like that in the Hunt Cup, which was an error," said Charlton jnr.

Sinjaari (red and white silks): won the Coral Challenge at SandownCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

"We kind of thought he should have won and it was slightly our fault as we told Kieran to wait as long as possible. He ended up being left on his own on the near side and Kieran said afterwards we don't need to wait to deliver his run anymore.

"I said today to ride him normally and let him go when he's ready. He's now going through with his effort which makes him a potent force."

Owned by Mohammed Jaber, Sinjaari is set for a step up to Listed level next according to Charlton.

Shoemark rode a double on the day, also scoring in the 1m2f handicap on 33-1 shot Arqoob for William Jarvis.

'She's up to Group class'

Grande Dame bounced back from a disappointing run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot 15 days earlier to enjoy an authoritative success in the Listed Coral Distaff for John and Thady Gosden.

Beaten ten lengths behind star stablemate Inspiral in Ascot's Group 1, Grande Dame was far more comfortable in this grade and took her career record to two wins from four runs with the minimum of fuss.

Grande Dame: back to form at SandownCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

"That's the last three-year-old black-type fillies' race over a mile, so we were keen to come here and she did it with some authority," said Gosden snr.

"I think she's up to Group class with three-year-old fillies, whether she's up to Group class with older fillies is another matter.

"She's better than she showed at Ascot. She's an improver and Ryan Moore thought she should stay at a mile. There may be a race in Deauville for her."

Results, replays and analysis

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