Buick pleased with D'bai after inaugural Listed success

Godolphin's two-pronged assault on the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes was not in vain as D'bai, the 5-2 favourite, held on to deny the charging Al Hamdany in Pontefract's feature race on Monday.

The winner bumped Reachforthestars as William Buick angled him out for a run and then hung, causing interference with the runner-up. There had been a lengthy enquiry after similar interference in the first race, so it was somewhat surprising that no such enquiry was called this time. However, it could hardly be doubted that the best horse won.

Buick, who had ridden Dartmouth in Sunday's Canadian International at Woodbine, said: "It's heavy ground out there and it's hard work for two-year-olds but he's got through it well. Charlie thinks a fair bit of him but it's taken time to work out for him. I liked the performance."