Raven's Pass runs well in second as winner breaks track record

Aidan O'Brien last week put Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo - Sequoyah, by Sadler's Wells) amongst the best milers he has ever trained, if not the best, and the dual Guineas winner duly delivered in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, picking up in style from the rear of the field to pass his rivals, setting a new track record of 1:38.7 in the process.

The Ballydoyle pacemaker Minneapolis set a decent early pace with Henrythenavigator and Raven's Pass settled at the rear of the eight runners. On the turn for home French Guineas winner Falco made a move to the front, but Henrythenavigator was coming with a run from the rear, tracked by Raven's Pass. Twice Over also made a forward move, but Henrythenavigator picked up well in the straight, galloping strongly to the line. Raven's Pass ran a blinder in second, grinding down the winner to only three-quarters of a length at the line and showing that a mile is well within his compass. Twice Over was two and a half lengths down in third.

An impressed O'Brien told the BBC after the race: "We are delighted - he's a really special horse. "He has speed, stamina, class and he picks up - he has a great attitude and Johnny rode him with so much confidence. He's a great horse and I think it's very hard to say that we'll get a better miler than this lad.

"I think all things are open to him. He can go down a lot of routes, this horse. You could drop him back, step him up or leave him at a mile - it's a great decision to have to make."