The Wizard of Notts Recommends: Sire Alex Ferguson's Telescope back on track with facile success at Leicester

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/10188942/Sire-Alex-Fergusons-Telescope-back-on-track-with-facile-success-at-Leicester.html

The Telegraph

Thursday 18 July 2013

Sire Alex Ferguson's Telescope back on track with facile success at Leicester

Telescope, Sir Michael Stoute’s one-time Derby hope, belatedly got his season up and running at Leicester on Thursday when he ran out an impressive 24-length winner of a mile and a quarter conditions race.

Easy does it: Telescope and Ryan Moore pull well clear of their two rivals at Leicester Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By By Marcus Armytage

5:48PM BST 18 Jul 2013

The Galileo colt, owned by a Highclere syndicate which includes Sir Alex Ferguson, missed the Dante after a graze on his leg became infected and was then pulled out of the Derby after failing to satisfy connections in a Lingfield racecourse gallop.

Here, however, was more like the colt that had been hyped through the spring, although the winning margin in this three-horse race should be taken with a pinch of salt. Centurius, was all but pulled up and the runner-up Mulakim, who had won a Haydock maiden on his only previous start, did not have much to race for once beaten.

Nevertheless, the way Telescope lengthened from three out and kept on to the line under Ryan Moore was very encouraging and it appears Stoute’s patience could be well rewarded with a productive autumn campaign. “It will get tougher for him that’s for sure,” said Stoute, “but he’s done nothing wrong on the racecourse. He’s been very smooth today.

“It’s been frustrating, but hopefully he can get on his way now. There are quite a few possibilities but we’ll see how he comes out of this and make a plan in a week.

“He’s only really done one good piece of work since Lingfield and impressed us, so we thought we’d look for a race. He’s had a workout and was nice and relaxed although the race was a bit inconclusive.”

Telescope has entries in the Great Voltigeur and the International Stakes at York, the Irish Champion Stakes as well as the St Leger. Alex Smith, representing Highclere, said: “We’re all thrilled and relieved. It was very impressive. He went straight all the way to the line and Ryan was clearly very pleased with him.”

There was no dream start to Jamie Piggott’s career as an apprentice jockey at Killarney. The 19-year-old son of Lester Piggott made his debut on Pivotal Rock, who was backed into 6-1 favourite for a handicap.Although well placed early, the horse never realistically looked like winning and any chance he might have had disappeared when he was squeezed up about two furlongs out. He finished seventh, beaten 12½ lengths.