Leshlaa and Arabian Hope give Bin Suroor Group-race double

Saeed Bin Suroor bagged a Group-race double on the opening day of the Longines International Racing Festival in Istanbul but the Newmarket-based trainer will have welcomed back easier winners during his stellar career.

Arabian Hope, third in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket before disappointing in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville, had what looked like a penalty kick when taking on four local runners in the Group 3 Istanbul Trophy and those who see only the result would be forgiven for thinking she converted without fuss.

In reality, those who took the short prices about the daughter of Distorted Humor had more than a few moments of concern, as she and jockey Gerald Mosse found themselves boxed in on the rail by Cheri Cheri Lady and Tatvan Incisi for much of the home straight.

Bin Suroor admitted that he had feared the worst but Mosse was brave in finding the gap and Arabian Hope had the guts to match as she cleared away to win with authority and set up a likely return to Group 1 level in the autumn.

"I was a little worried for a moment but the jockey is a professional and when he found the gap, she won well," said Bin Suroor.

Arabian Hope: could be in contention for the Sun Chariot Stakes after Group race success in TurkeyCredit: Mark Cranham

"We'll take her home and see how she is. She is entered in a lot of races and we will have to decide which is the best. The Sun Chariot Stakes would be one option."

An hour earlier, things had not gone to plan either for Leshlaa, who kicked off the double with a win in the Group 2 France Galop FRBC Anatolia Trophy on the Polytrack.

The three-year-old was not suited by the steady tempo and took plenty of time to get going in the straight, as local hope Cerastes made a bold bid for home.

Archie Watson's Absolute Blast had been up with the pace set by Cerastes and, to her credit, was quickly able to reel her rival in as he sought to steal a length or two on her, with last year's winner Belgian Bill also arriving on the scene late on.

Absolute Blast: British representative finished third in the Group 2 Anatolia TrophyCredit: Mark Cranham

But it was Leshlaa who finally got going to sweep by them all and hand Quinn a first success in Turkey, with Cerastes holding on for second from Absolute Blast.

"He's better when he comes off a strong pace and we were going very steady but he basically out-sprinted them," said Quinn.

"They hacked, then trotted, then they walked, and he's just done them for turn of foot down the straight."

Bin Suroor was delighted with the performance of a horse was a winner of a Newmarket handicap in May but had failed to hit the target since.

"He's finished the race well and I'm really happy with the way he won the race," said Bin Suroor.

"He's a horse who is improving physically with time. We'll take him back home to Britain now and there will be plenty of options open for him."

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