'She's a joy to train' - La Lune strikes for Henry Candy in Pinnacle Stakes

Henry Candy stated on Friday his Pinnacle Stakes hopeful La Lune would hate the ground and the best he could hope for was a place, but those expectations were exceeded in spectacular style as the five-year-old mare romped home to win at Group level for the first time.

David Probert's mount handled the drying good to soft ground and struck by a length and three-quarters over Cabaletta.

"She’s a joy to train," said Candy. “She’s so genuine and straightforward and just wants to please. You don’t get many like that, but she’s an absolute superstar. I was worried about the ground and it wasn’t ideal for her but she coped with it."

Henry Candy on La Lune: 'She’s a joy to train'Credit: Grossick Racing

A winner of the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks in April, another step up in class could await with the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks back at Haydock on the radar.

Some of La Lune's delighted owners were present and James Wilkinson, representing the Alizeti Partners, said: "I can’t see any reason why she can’t go for the Lancashire Oaks and if she does she’d have a really good chance.

"We had reservations with the ground, but it was just suitable and she’s won with a fair bit in hand. For all of us to be here representing Alizeti is just great."

Kinross pounces

A gelding operation proved to be just what was needed for Kinross, who bounced back to his best with victory in the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes.

The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old had gone off the boil after looking potentially top-class as a two-year-old and finishing sixth in last year's 2,000 Guineas.

Sent off as one of three 5-1 co-favourites, Kinross travelled best under Frankie Dettori and his commanding victory completed a globetrotting treble for owner Marc Chan, who has also had winners at Pontefract in West Yorkshire and Happy Valley in Hong Kong this week.

The son of Kingman had been well beaten in two starts at Meydan since being bought by Chan earlier this year, and Dettori said: “Marc bought him with the thought of the carnival in Dubai but he just wasn’t ready for it.

Kinross: an impressive and popular winner of the John Of Gaunt Stakes for Frankie DettoriCredit: Tim Goode (Pool (Getty Images))

"He had great form as a two-year-old and Ralph decided to geld him but we didn't know what to expect because his last two runs were really bad. He picked up and put the race to bed straight away today.

"Prior to the race we were a little bit puzzled but he’s shown he still has his ability and now we can make a plan."

Queen strikes with King

King’s Lynn was slashed in price for the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot after returning to winning ways in the Listed Achilles Stakes.

Owned by the Queen, the Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old is now 16-1 (from 50) with bet365 for the Ascot Group 1 after a gutsy neck success over Moss Gill.

“He’s just learning how to sprint now and that was a huge step up in form,” said jockey Oisin Murphy, who shrugged off a bad bout of toothache to double up on the day with Quickthorn in the opener.

King's Lynn: making impressive progress as a five-furlong sprinterCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Fabulous five

Trainer Adrian Nicholls could scarcely believe his luck as Mo Celita completed a spectacular five-timer in the 6f handicap, and the talented three-year-old filly could now crown her meteoric rise at Royal Ascot next month.

After being picked up by Nicholls from Willie McCreery in Ireland, Mo Celita won three selling races without being claimed, and delivered her finest performance yet when striking over course and distance for the second time in a week under 5lb claimer Laura Coughlan.

Mo Celtia: won for the fifth time in a row under 5lb claimer Laura CoughlanCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Nicholls said: “If you’d said two months ago I’d be standing here after winning five in a row I would have laughed. It’s unbelievable. She’s stepping up in class and winning with the same ease as she was before, she’s been a superstar.

"Depending how much her rating goes up I might consider putting her in the Jersey Stakes."

Results, replays and analysis

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