'There's no question he's nice' - Stormbuster camp eye Futurity after easy win

Friday: Newbury

The Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes has a rich history and its 42nd running might be one to note given the way Stormbuster tore away from his opposition to win by a commanding five lengths.

Having his fourth start, he is owned by breeder Jeff Smith, who said: "We've got a nice horse, there's no question about that. We thought this from day one."

The mile contest has produced Derby, Arc and Breeders' Cup heroes and ambitious targets await the David Probert-ridden winner.

Smith added: "I think we just bumped into one last time and we were pretty hopeful today.

"He's in the Vertem Futurity Stakes at Doncaster in October and, if he runs again this year, that would be the target. Looking at that, you'd have to run him again."

Hollie Doyle steers Surely Not to victoryCredit: Edward Whitaker

Surely success

Surely Not's victory in the nursery allowed Dominic Ffrench Davis a trip down memory lane – and he was thrilled to take it.

"Jimmy Chapman and Tom Holroyd are involved in him and were involved in my first ever winner, Jobber's Fiddle at Brighton in 1994," said the trainer.

"Jimmy worked in the City and was a jobber, hence the name. They had that horse and then did silly things like get married, have children and pay school fees and it wasn't until Manson in 2015 they got involved again.

"They were lucky as Manson was good, they've a very nice Ulysses colt we're looking forward to running and this fella was showing the right signs at home, so they came into him as well."

Ffrench Davis, a popular figure in Lambourn, added: "We've only got 18 horses and everything we've run has performed as expected. There has hardly been anything that's had me scratching my head; they've been running well."

Crystallium beats Wyoming in the conditions stakes for filliesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Crystallium lays down the law

Nothing would have kept Richmond-based owner Elaine Nolan from seeing Crystallium run in the conditions stakes for fillies and the two-year-old read the script.

"I was always going to come today because I missed her win at Chelmsford," said Nolan, who owns the winner with Paul Hancock.

"I was in Mallorca and there were some flight problems back to Britain, but I'm absolutely thrilled – she's got a big heart and wants to win.

"I've been involved in racing for about 20 years, but she's probably one of the best fillies I've had. I really think a lot of her."

Newmarket's Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes on October 7 could be next for Crystallium and Nolan, a restructuring partner at a financial law firm in London, added: "I wouldn't miss that for the world."

Skysail strikes under Dougie CostelloCredit: Edward Whitaker

In the money

Division two of the 6f maiden went to Skysail, whose owners – a syndicate put together by trainer Marcus Tregoning – could be in the money.

"There are 12 people in him," said Tregoning. "They've paid around £4,000 for a share and get a full year's training fees too.

"They've done extremely well because he'll be worth quite a bit of money now, but hopefully we can keep him and he'll do very well next year.

"Before that he'll run in a sales race at Newmarket, which is worth £150,000."

Ryan Moore gives Owen Burrows the lowdown after Lajooje's victoryCredit: Edward Whitaker

The first division was won by Lajooje, whose rider Ryan Moore provided Owen Burrows with a comprehensive debrief.

Asked if Moore's words were positive, the trainer replied: "Yes, definitely! Ryan said he liked him and said he probably got there a bit soon."

Burrows doubled up when Perseus Way won the concluding 1m2f handicap.

Super Sacred

Sacred bounced back to form in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes, powering six and a half lengths clear to record her first win for 13 months.

The drought for the William Haggas-trained four-year-old dated back to the Hungerford Stakes over the course and distance last August and she had struggled in three efforts this season before being dropped in grade.

The daughter of Exceed and Excel had no issues obliging at odds of 10-11 and with confidence renewed, will step back up in class for the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on October 7.

The trainer's wife Maureen Haggas said: "I think Sacred likes Newbury. She's a funny old bird though, very talented but not the easiest. I think they got too strung out at York and she lost interest. She likes to be in there with them, thinking she's going better than them. She's got bags of ability, but needs horses around her to keep her interested."

Results, replays and analysis

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