Stakes-Winning Saxon Warrior Colt Stakes Royal Ascot Claims

Sardinian Warrior (4c Saxon Warrior – La Collina, by Strategic Prince) returned on Wednesday to record his fourth consecutive success and first black-type victory in the Listed Paradise Stakes at Ascot.

Off since completing a hat-trick in November, John and Thady Gosden’s charge was reunited with Kieran Shoemark at Ascot and track clear leaders for much of the mile contest. Making headway with over two furlongs left to race, he was pushed along to lead a furlong later and was ridden when Group 1 performer Docklands loomed alongside. Sardinian Warrior ran on well to win by half a length, with the pair rallying four and a quarter lengths clear of the third.

“I think Sardinian Warrior is a top-level horse,” Shoemark remarked. “It would have taken a nice one to win today as there were some proper hardened yardsticks in there, so he had to run to his rating. There's improvement to come and that was a good effort.

“I haven't sat on him at home this year but I really liked him when he won his last start and I thought he had plenty of potential. He picked up and quickened really well.”

The performance saw Sardinian Warrior cut to 14/1 for the Queen Anne Stakes. Now a four-time winner from five starts, the Saxon Warrior colt was bought by Jamie McCalmont on behalf of owner Marc Chan as a foal for 200,000gns. The exciting prospect was bred and sold by Kenilworth House Stud.

Later that day at Southwell, Palazzo Blu (3c Saxon Warrior – Kalsara, by Muhaarar) made it two wins from three starts in the novice stakes over a mile and a half.

A debut winner over ten furlongs in November, the Marco Botti-trained colt returned earlier this month to finish second and was sent off favourite on Wednesday. Partnered by Marco Ghiani, he was delivered to challenge in the straight and finished strongly to lead by three parts of a length on the line. The front pair drew 10 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

The promising colt is owned by the St Simon Partnership and was bred by La Fabbrica Delle Candele Sas. His two-year-old half-sister by Australia fetched 150,000gns last October, while his dam also has a Blackbeard yearling filly.