Mostahdaf cut to 5-1 for St James's Palace after taking display at Sandown

Mostahdaf maintained his unbeaten record and may well have punched his ticket to Royal Ascot after getting the better of a thrilling three-way finish with Highland Avenue and Bullace in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown on Thursday.

The son of Frankel was green in the preliminaries, but once the gates opened he produced a polished display under Jim Crowley.

The first three home all hold entries in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, with Mostahdaf cut to 5-1 (from 10) by Paddy Power following this half-length success.

6.55 Sandown: full result and race replay

Speaking to Racing TV, John Gosden, who trains Mostahdaf in combination with son Thady, said: "He didn't like the ground very much as it was very testing and Jim said he was having a look around.

"That was the first time he's ever raced on turf. However, he came into it well and showed a lot of courage. The first three all look nice horses but it was hard work for them."

The winner also holds an entry in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse over two furlongs further in July, for which he was trimmed into 12-1 (from 20).

Mostahdaf and Jim Crowley win the Heron StakesCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Held up early, Mostahdaf was moved to the outside of the seven-runner field in the straight and proceeded to storm home, first heading Bullace, before holding off 11-8 favourite Highland Avenue.

Gosden added: "He's done very well physically since early April. I think he would have been a lot more impressive if it had been on good ground.

"The St James's Palace is a possibility. We'll see what the mix is and what happens in the Irish Guineas. I think we'll leave all options open and see how he is over the next ten days."

The contest was Mostahdaf's first run on turf following two victories on the all-weather at Newcastle and Kempton.

A brother to the same stable's Group 1-winning mare Nazeef, the winner would be following a familiar path should his next stop be at Royal Ascot.

John Gosden forged the same trail in 2018 with Without Parole, who went on to land the St James's Palace after victory in the Heron.

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