'Alenquer is a Group 1 horse in the making' - colt smashes track record

Saturday: Lingfield

Alenquer capped a key week for Cieren Fallon as he smashed the track record in sinking classy Lord North in the Group 3 Betway Winter Derby.

The 11-4 chance had the perfect position throughout off a soft pace set by his former stablemate Al Zaraqaan before powering clear in the straight to give William Haggas a first win in the track's all-weather highlight.

A Group 2 winner and twice Group 1 placed last year, Alenquer could be in line for a trip abroad for the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan next month for which he is a 6-1 chance with the Lingfield race sponsors.

Fallon, who was confirmed acting number one rider for Qatar Racing earlier in the week, said: "I got a nice tow into the first bend off Hollie Doyle and had a nice position throughout. He was a bit disorganised around the bend but when he hit the straight it was game over.

"Hopefully, he'll tighten up for that and it's nice to get the call-up for the ride with Tom Marquand riding in Saudi Arabia."

Amando Duarte, racing manager to winning owners M M Stables, said: "He'll improve massively for this race as he was only 80 per cent fit and hopefully this will set him up nicely for the Group 1 targets such as Dubai Sheema Classic or maybe the Prix Ganay.

"Cieren gave him a perfect ride from a perfect position throughout and I think Alenquer is a Group 1 horse in the making."

Rab Havlin, rider of runner-up Lord North, said: "He needed the run and will come on a good bit for that. He didn't handle the bend that well but he ran on well again in the straight. That will have blown the cobwebs away for the year."

Night to remember

Scott Dixon enjoyed a memorable day at the Surrey track when One Night Stand gave him his first black-type win in the Listed Hever Sprint Stakes.

The 17-2 chance got to the front from flagfall under Hollie Doyle in the five-furlong speed test and did not see another rival to give Dixon a landmark win.

One Night Stand: winning trainer Scott Dixon with Hollie DoyleCredit: Mark Cranham

One Night Stand was unlucky on his previous visit to Lingfield in a Listed contest over six furlongs but he is likely to be kept to the minimum after this.

Dixon said: "Fair play to the owners Simon Chappell, Andrew Cope and my dad Paul, who decided to have a crack at the big pot rather than run in the handicap on this card.

"I'm thrilled to have my first stakes winner and we'll stick to five furlongs after this. I don't know that all-weather finals at Newcastle would be his gig, but we could freshen him up for the turf."

Burns in form

Apprentice Harry Burns has recently started another chapter of his career by joining the stable of Simon and Ed Crisford and continued in the ascendency when Aljaryaal landed the 2m handicap.

The 5lb claimer was linking up with his old mentor Joe Parr with the 5-2 chance, who got first run on market leader Phoenix Aquilus to win handily.

Burns said: "I joined Simon and Ed Crisford at the beginning of the month and hopefully that will open other doors for me."

Stoute link

Richard Kingscote is preparing to resume riding out for Sir Michael Stoute next month and got his eye in when steering Hafeet Alain home in the mile handicap for Ed Walker.

The former Hong Kong trainee got the splits when it mattered to account for Imperial Sands.

The jockey said: "I'm due to go in and start riding work for Sir Michael next month. Other than that I'll probably ride out for Tom Dascombe when he sorts out where he's going."

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