Tattersalls graduate Stratum bags valuable JLT Cup at Newbury

Newbury's valuable JLT Cup looks likely to become quickly established as one of the summer's most sought after staying handicap prizes and the inaugural running of the £100,000 contest produced a fine winner in Stratum on Saturday.

The five-year-old's owner Tony Bloom is famed for landing gambles in hotly-contested handicaps and this represented yet another feather in his cap as Stratum ran out a commanding winner.

Bred by Al Asayl Bloodstock, Stratum was picked up by Harold Kirk and his trainer Willie Mullins for 160,000 guineas at the 2016 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale having won one race from eight starts with John Gosden.

The gelding is by Dansili and is the first foal out of the Windsor mile maiden Lunar Phase, a daughter of Coolmore's great Galileo, meaning he is bred on the same cross as the likes of the former Aidan O'Brien-trained stakes placegetter Earring.

Lunar Phase has a two-year-old brother to Stratum as well as a yearling by Lope De Vega.

Dansili's retirement from stallion duties was announced by Juddmonte in April, since when the sire has enjoyed a fine run of form, his progeny worldwide bringing in more than £1 million of prize-money.

He has been represented during that period by French Group 3 scorer Efaadah, the Epsom Listed winner Crossed Baton and Goodwood's Festival Stakes hero First Sitting.

Dansili has continued to be well represented as a damsire too, with the likes of Expert Eye and Magic Wand advertising his credentials.

First win for well-bred Indian Sounds

Indian Sounds put the experience of his two third-placed efforts to date to good use when holding off Cool Reflection to win the bet365 Novice Stakes for colts and geldings over six furlongs at Newbury.

The Godolphin-bred colt is a son of Exceed And Excel out of Dubawi's Listed-winning daughter Sarinda.

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