Candleford outclasses Listed rivals to record double for Cieren Fallon and William Haggas

Candleford demonstrated his class to become the inaugural winner of the Listed Charlie Wood Stakes under Cieren Fallon.

The seven-year-old won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022 and had been successful at this level when winning the August Stakes at Windsor a year later and Orby Stakes at the Curragh last year.

William Haggas held him in high enough regard to run him in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes off the back of a 364-day absence at Royal Ascot last time and, while he finished last of 12 there, this was more representative of his talent. 

Candleford travelled strongly behind the front-runner Abingworth before taking up the running just under three furlongs out. He soon established a clear lead and defeated 5-6 favourite Karmology by three lengths. 

"He didn't disgrace himself at Ascot," Fallon said. "If he put his best foot forward today he was going to take a lot of beating and he did. He was very impressive. He showed a nice turn of foot to put the race to bed when he needed to. He felt like his old self, so it's nice to see him back on track."

Fallon completed a double with stablemate Take A Breath in the 1m½f fillies' handicap, while Haggas made it a treble with Yabher at Sandown.

He added: "She really didn't handle the track and I was in the wrong place, but I was able to get first run on the horse on the inside. She was very tough and we'll see improvement when she steps up in trip at a more conventional track."

The Charlie Wood Stakes was previously run as the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket and honours the rags-to-riches jockey who won the Triple Crown aboard Galtee More in 1897.

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