Sir Michael Stoute pulled off another masterpiece of training when he produced Spanish Sun fit and ready to win the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes in thrilling fashion under Richard Hughes at Royal Ascot today.
Mezzo Soprano struck the front inside the final quarter-mile and went for home, but Hughes brought Spanish Sun to head her inside the final furlong and the Khalid Abdullah-owned and bred filly just held the storming late run of the favourite Ocean Silk by a head.
Stoute said: "That was the original plan, but she had a few niggling little problems. The plan was to ride her nice and handy today, but she did not jump well and she wasn't comfortable at that pace - she is a long-striding filly and she changed her legs at the furlong pole."
The Irish and Yorkshire Oaks could be possible targets, but Stoute went on: "I don't know what we will do next. We will see how she is in the morning." Hughes, who was riding his third winner of the meeting, said: "When theyquickened up I must have been eight lengths down at least, so she has done very well to get there. I knew she had a turn of foot. It was just a question of whether she was quick enough - it was a very good performance."
Filed by Brendan Cole
