'Smart horse' Almeric set for Dante and Prix du Jockey Club after Feilden Stakes success at Newmarket

There was a good reason for the lack of Betfred Derby quotes knocking around after Almeric's win in the Listed Feilden Stakes as the son of Study Of Man is not entered at Epsom, but he could be in line to run in the French equivalent at Chantilly, a double last achieved by Intello in 2013.

Study Of Man, who stands at Almeric's owner Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud, was represented by a subsequent Group 1 winner at the Craven meeting in the shape of Kalpana last year. And the sire could have another top-level performer in the pipeline after the striking grey, who was backed into 11-4 favourite from 6-1 in the morning, scored by a length under Oisin Murphy.

Almeric and runner-up King Of Cities handled the good to soft ground better than most, and there was just two left in contention after the Bushes when pacemaker Green Storm dropped away. The front pair came close inside the final furlong, but the result stood after a stewards' inquiry.

Winning trainer Andrew Balding said: "Almeric is a smart horse. He's not in the Derby, but he's in the French Derby and a host of others. I think the plan would be to go to the Dante before a crack at the Prix du Jockey Club."

Fleet sunk

Ottoman Fleet was attempting an unprecedented third straight win in the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes, but was sunk by the improving Persica, who cut through the gloom under Ryan Moore to set up a tilt at the Group 1 BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury next month.

The well-backed 3-1 winner sat off a decent pace set by Ambiente Friendly before moving into contention entering the Dip, where he went clear to give Richard Hannon a second win in the 1m1f contest.

Persica and Ryan Moore on their way to victory in the Earl of Sefton StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Persica was cut to 12-1 (from 33) by Paddy Power for the Lockinge, a race for which Hannon has a host of entries including Rosallion.

The trainer said: "Persica will go to Newbury if it's soft, but he could have a good one in him later on. The owners love the game and turned down a lot of money for him, so it's a nice outcome."

Hannon later doubled up when Harry's Girl won the 5f juvenile fillies' maiden under Tom Marquand, who was also completing a brace of his own after winning the opening 6f handicap on More Thunder.

Queen reigns

Three years after Coroebus landed the 2,000 Guineas at the track for Charlie Applebly and Godolphin, his half-sister Victory Queen posted a pleasing debut win in the 7f fillies' maiden under William Buick.

The 100-30 chance looked to be in trouble at the Bushes off a pace set by the more streetwise Pelean, but got her act together to account for 9-4 favourite Zgharta.

Alex Merriam, assistant trainer to Appleby, said: "That was her first time on the track and she was learning on the job a bit, but she did it quite smoothly. On this ground I think having a run was an advantage, so hopefully she will improve a bit for it. We will find another novice for her and creep away and see how we go."

The same combination doubled up when Treasure Fleet plundered the closing 1m2f handicap. 

Seagulls flying high

Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele was on the Rowley Mile for a rare glimpse of Seagulls Eleven, the Betfred 2,000 Guineas contender he owns in partnership with teammates Lewis Dunk, James Milner and Danny Welbeck among others.

A 33-1 chance with Paddy Power for the Guineas, the Hugo Palmer-trained three-year-old worked a mile before racing under Oisin Murphy, clearing away from stablemate He's A Gentleman, who was ridden by Michael Hills. 

Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele listens to Oisin Murphy after Seagulls Eleven's gallop on the Rowley Mile on TuesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Murphy sported the blue and white silks of Seagulls Eleven for the gallop, but Steele does not expect to be on course to see the son of Galileo Gold run in the Classic itself on May 3.

He said: "Unfortunately we are playing Newcastle that day, but we'll no doubt keep in touch and cheer him on from afar."

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