'We have unfinished business in the Derby' - Wimbledon Hawkeye stamps his Classic potential for the Gredleys with Royal Lodge win

Just a day after celebrating his first winner on the Rowley Mile in Listed company, trainer James Owen topped that when Wimbledon Hawkeye trounced the opposition in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes.

Burdett Road carried the Gredley silks to glory in impressive fashion in Friday's Godolphin Stakes and Wimbledon Hawkeye scored in the same colours under James Doyle to propel himself into next year's Classic picture.

Travelling strongly throughout, the son of Kameko showed the benefit of a racecourse gallop at the track only eight days previously when accounting for Royal Playwright by a length and a half. 

Part-owner Tim Gredley said: "We thought if we won today we might have a crack at the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. He's still got some more growing to do, which is why we were a bit hesitant about coming here today, but he did a nice bit of work here the other day when he walked all over a 90-rated horse, so we thought we'd swing the racket."

The son of Kameko is a best-priced 8-1 for the Futurity and can be backed at 25-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral for next season's 2,000 Guineas. 

Gredley added: "We'll have a look at Doncaster but he's very much a next-year horse and we could have a Guineas horse on our hands. Beyond that we have some unfinished business in the Derby after Ambiente Friendly's near-miss this year."

Doyle said: "That was lovely and straightforward. I was always in control and could save a bit for the middle part of the race. I then let him stride on before we got to the Dip and he handled it particularly well."

Busy Goff

Bloodstock agent Tom Goff was multi-tasking to say the least before the 7f fillies' maiden won by Saqqara Sands. 

Goff was the representative for race sponsor Blandford Bloodstock, is racing manager to the owners of fifth home Glamorous Marlene and also revealed he was underbidder for Digub, who finished fourth in the ten-runner contest.

Goff said: "We've sponsored juvenile races at Newmarket for over a decade and I would say the best we've had is Saffron Beach, who went on to win Group 1s. It's a busy time in the bloodstock industry at the moment and we're all booked on a flight to Ireland tonight for Goffs [Orby sale] which starts next week."

A 4-1 chance, Saqqara Sands gave trainer Ralph Beckett his 94th winner of the season when bursting out of the Dip to master Texas Starlight. 

Howarth on top  

Apprentice Christian Howarth rode his first winner on the Rowley Mile when steering his regular mount Naina to a fourth victory in the opening nursery.

The 6-1 chance is something of a pocket rocket for local trainer John Ryan, but what she lacks in size she makes up for in talent. Always travelling well off a pace set by Harmonia, Naina was in command coming out of the Dip.

Ryan said: "She's well balanced and won a £20,000 seller on the July course so we knew she'd handle the track. She then went to Yarmouth and won again and loves this ground.

"She could well end up in a Pattern race abroad."

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