Maximized justifies big reputation with Woodcote win

lived up to top billing for Godolphin with a smooth success in the Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes at Epsom.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Mehmas colt cost £720,000 at the spring breeze-up sales but he briefly looked to have a battle on his hands when the 9,000 guineas purchase Havana Hurricane loomed up on his outside.

William Buick gathered his mount, though, and the 6-5 favourite eventually pulled nicely clear to win by a length and a half.

Coral cut him to 12-1 from 16s for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Appleby said: “When he won at Haydock he jumped and skipped very sweetly on the sounder surface and it’s good to soft out there today. It will be interesting to see what Will has got to say, but he might have found that a little bit more testing today I would imagine.

“The Royal Ascot picture is building with a few of these two-year-olds. With Military Code we might look towards the Coventry, and then we’ve Wise Approach who we thought could be a Norfolk or a Windsor Castle horse.

“I don’t think this horse would be able to drop back in trip, so if we need to go to Ascot it could be the Coventry, or we could skip Ascot as I thought the July Stakes (at Newmarket) could be a nice race for him to be honest.”

Brocklesby Stakes winner Norman’s Cay was eased down by jockey David Egan well before the line, with the colt appearing to go wrong.

Screens were erected around the Richard Hannon-trained runner but a Jockey Club spokesperson said: “He walked into the horse ambulance and will be taken to the racecourse stables for further assessment.”