Lord North completes transformation with stunning Prince of Wales's success

Lord North paid a huge compliment to the champion trainer's skill and patience with a stunning victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, little more than a year after finishing last in a Listed race.

John Gosden didn't get where he is today without knowing a good horse when he sees one and working out a way of getting the best out of him.

Enable, Stradivarius and many others with whom he has made his name were always Group 1 winners in the making but recognising talent in less than obvious places and unlocking it for the world to see is what sets the best apart from the rest – and Gosden is among the very best.

Watch Lord North's stunning burst of speed to land the Prince of Wales's Stakes

He took the decision to geld the then three-year-old after his Sandown flop in May last season and was rewarded when Lord North gave him a record fifth Cambridgeshire success in the autumn.

The other four went on to score in Group company, most notably the dual Eclipse and International winner Halling, and Lord North emulated that achievement in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Haydock this month.

But Gosden knew the four-year-old had more to offer than the bare form of that comeback success and was unafraid to pitch him into the most prestigious middle-distance race of the week at Royal Ascot.

And that proved spot-on as Lord North showed a spectacular burst of speed to come from off the pace and score by three and three-quarter lengths under James Doyle.

Reflecting on the decision to geld the one-time under-performer, Gosden said: "I didn't have much choice, testosterone is the most dangerous drug in the world and it was certainly driving him completely mad. Since he's been gelded he's been a very content, still very playful horse, he's not crazy like he used to be.

"We've always thought of him as a very classy horse but it's taken a long time to get it out of him. That's more to do with the mind than anything else."

Reflecting on the dramatic upturn, he said: "It echoes memories of Halling. He's a very progressive horse. They went a strong gallop, there was no hiding place. They didn't stop and have a breather, they kept going the whole way. But this is a proper horse. He sat out the back and he won with great authority."

Jockey James Doyle and trainer John Gosden after Lord North's successCredit: Edward Whitaker

With Frankie Dettori on stablemate Mehdaayih, whom Gosden reckoned needed the race, James Doyle came in for the ride on Lord North due to his link with Godolphin – and was thrilled to do so on a memorable day that later brought royal success aboard Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

"He settled beautifully out the back and took me into the race nicely and showed a good turn of foot," the jockey said.

"The race panned out in his favour but it was certainly no fluke and he can be a strong force in this type of race.

"Once the gap opened he surprised me at just how he quickened. He was a joy to ride."

Lord North earned a quote of just 4-1 from Paddy Power for next month's Eclipse at Sandown and a potential clash with another Dettori-ridden stablemate in Enable, but Gosden is in no rush to commit his newest star to that particular showdown.

"He's had two quick races," the trainer said. "Let's just freshen him, see how we are over the next ten days and then we'll make decisions."

Lord North has earned an invitation for the Breeders' Cup Turf and Gosden said: "He might get a mile and a half round Keeneland, that's a tight old turning track. I just hope it doesn't rain, it runs into a bit of a sandpit when it does."

Dual Australian Group 1 winner Addeybb did best of the rest in second place on his first run back in Britain, delighting William Haggas.

"He's better on soft ground but he has still run a terrific race," the trainer said. "He tries his heart out. If I kept running him on good ground he wouldn't keep doing that. He just gives his all.

"He has become a very consistent, high-class horse and that was another great run."

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