Colour Vision smashes course record in Sagaro
Report: Kempton, Wednesday
Blue Square Levy Board Sagaro Stakes (Group 3) 2m, 4yo+
COLOUR VISION came from last to first in breathtaking fashion to romp to a first victory in Group company, beating Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux by a length and a half.
Held up and detached from the main field through the opening stages, Frankie Dettori sat off the fast early pace, which was set by the Clive Cox-trained Electrolyser.
As the field came down the home straight for the first time, Colour Vision was three lengths off Red Cadeaux, who trailed the other four runners.
Along the back straight the hot pace began to take its toll on those towards the head of affairs, with several close to the pace coming under pressure early.
This forced Paul Hanagan to switch wide on 5-2 favourite Thimaar on the tight home bend so as not to get stuck behind horses. As a consequence he was forced to commit earlier than ideal and as the field turned into the straight, both RedCadeaux and Colour Vision loomed large.
While Red Cadeaux came wide, Dettori, clearly sitting on a lot of horse, bided his time and waited for the cut away before delivering his challenge between runners, accelerating impressively and grabbing the rail.
It was an emphatic turn of foot that put the race to bed in a matter of strides and Colour Vision, third to Fame And Glory and Opinion Poll in the 2m Long Distance Cup on Champions Day last year, marked himself as a serious contender for Cup honours this year on his first start for Saeed Bin Suroor.
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "He certainly looked good there. We were concerned he might need it but sitting out the back helped him. He'll probably have one more run before going for the Gold Cup. He could go for the Henry II at Sandown, but he'll have a penalty to carry there now that it's downto a Group 3."
Having been as big as 20-1 with Paddy Power, bookmakers reacted by cutting the winner to a general 10-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, although bet365, Betvictor and Coral went 8-1.
Ed Dunlop, trainerof Red Cadeaux, said: "I'm very happy. It was a good comeback from a horse who wasn't wound up. He'll drop back to a mile and six for the Yorkshire Cup, and all being well he'll go back for the Melbourne Cup."
The first two home pulled nine lengths clear of Thimaar, and in doing so smashed the course record, which was set by John Gosden's runner 25 days ago, by nearly three seconds. Colour Vision stopped the clock at 3min 21.5sec.
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