3 minute read
Jack Hobbs enhanced his position as Britain's leading challenger for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with an effortless success in the totescoop6 September Stakes at Kempton Park.
Having cut an impressive figure in the parade ring the Irish Derby hero showed no signs of rustiness on his first start since lighting up the Curragh back in June, making his class tell to turn the Group Three event into a procession.
After putting Derby winner Golden Horn through his paces earlier in the day in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket's Rowley Mile, trainer John Gosden was keen to see the son of Halling warm up for Longchamp on October 4 in perfect fashion and he was not to be disappointed.
Although one of the last to break, the three-year-old was quickly moved up by William Buick to sit behind the early pace set by Aussie Reigns.
Biding his time aboard the 1-5 favourite, Buick edged him into the lead just inside the two-pole before pressing the 'go' button.
The response was emphatic, with Jack Hobbs quickly motoring through the gears to put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
Needing only to be pushed out with hands and heels, Buick was afforded the luxury of easing his mount approaching the line as the pair cruised three and a quarter lengths clear of Sweeping Up.
Betfred cut Jack Hobbs from 7-1 to 6-1 for the Arc, while both Paddy Power and Bet Victor left him unchanged at 11-2 and 7-1 respectively.
Gosden said: "I hadn't done a lot of work with him and he was fresh down to the start, but in the race William managed to switch him off and get him relaxed, and that is important.
"There's no reason why we won't go to France and he has won well today.
"We were happy to get a nice prep race at home, rather than travelling over to France (Prix Niel next weekend) and then travelling over again.
"I think he is an improving horse and like his father he will get better at four and five, there is no reason a horse of that scope and frame will not improve with age.
"He handles soft if it goes that way in France and there is no reason not to look in that direction.
"We've always loved the horse. He is a lovely horse and is improving all the time and did all that is required of him with hands and heels.
"He is a very good horse and Golden Horn is an exceptional horse. They are two nice three-year-olds. This time of year it is such an important thing that they hold their form.
"They could possibly meet in the Arc. We will see, there's four weeks to go."
Buick was similarly pleased with the performance of the winner, claiming he has improved significantly since chasing home Golden Horn home in the Investec Derby at Epsom.
He said: "It all went to plan. There is no such thing as a certainty, it is nice to just get him back again.
"He has done well for his break. He was very fresh, but he has got such a good head on him and good mind.
"He doesn't pull. It was a bit of a racecourse gallop for him. That's what I wanted, I didn't want him to come here and have a hard race.
"He has filled out a lot. I definitely think he is a better horse than when he ran at Epsom. He has taken leaps and bounds forwards and is a very exciting horse.
"We learnt nothing today about his ability, all we know he is very well and on course for Paris."