Farhh flies home in Lockinge for Godolphin

Report: Newbury, Saturday

JLT Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) 1m, 4yo+

FARHH proved to be in a totally different class to his rivals as he scooted clear for a highly impressive first win at Group 1 level.

With wonderhorse Frankel, who he twice finished second behind last year, retired to stud the path was cleared for a new star in the miling division and Farhh put down his credentials for that position in the best possible fashion with a four-length demolition of 80-1 outsider Sovereign Debt. Aljamaaheer finished a neck further back in third.

This was the fifth time that Saeed Bin Suroor had trained the winner of the Lockinge, the most recent success before this coming with Creachadoir in 2008 and a first British Group 1 winner for jockey Silvestre de Sousa.

Farhh, who returned at 100-30, raced prominently throughout the £180,000 contest moving up to challenge the front-running pair Reply and Penitent two furlongs from home.

At the point the well-backed Declaration Of War was going with him stride for stride, however the five-year-old had no problems in seeing off the 5-4 favourite who subsequently dropped away disappointingly.

De Sousa said: "He deserved to get his head in front, he has done it in great fashion and it was brilliant.

"When he got to the front he felt a bit lonely but he has won with a bit in hand and he should come on for the run."

After a torrid time recently, Farrh's performance was a timely fillip for Godolphin and came hot on the heels of an equally impressive win from stablemate Willing Foe in the Listed Aston Park Stakes earlier on the card.

Racing manager Simon Crisford said: "It is fantastic, particularly after the problems we have had over the past few weeks. It is a major boost to the stable.

"He won really well and it did surprise me as he has been difficult to train and Saeed has had to tiptoe with him but he has done that impressively."

Farhh was given quotes of 7-2 from Paddy Power for both Royal Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes and Prince of Wales's Stakes after this romp but connections will leave their options open.

Crisford continued: "He's in the Prince of Wales's and Queen Anne at Ascot and we will wait for the five-day stage before deciding where to go. We had thought a mile and a quarter was his best trip but after that I'm not so sure."

The Queen Anne looks the likely target for Sovereign Debt after this career-best effort. Trainer Michael Bell said: "That was a terrific run. I'd have been happy being beaten four or five lengths. He hasn't won at Listed level yet, but as he likes Ascot I expect we'll go for the Queen Anne."

Declaration Of War got upset in the stalls and, after seeing him come in a well-beaten fifth, trainer Aidan O'Brien said: We'll take him home and see; obviously there must be an excuse."

The other leading fancy Cityscape was among the first beaten, eventually trailing in last of the 12 runners and trainer Roger Charlton said: "He hated the quick ground."