Royal Lodge Stakes victory for Best Of Days

Best Of Days fuelled dreams of next year’s Classics with a brave victory in the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile on turf at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, September 24.

The Hugo Palmer-trained colt, beaten a head by Syphax in the G3 Acomb Stakes at York on his previous start, broke well under James Doyle and was held up in seventh of the eight runners.

The two-year-old started to take closer order with three furlongs remaining and stayed on strongly to lead just inside the final furlong.

Best Of Days ran on before pressed by The Anvil in the closing stages but the Godolphin colt held on gamely to score by a neck in 1m 38.98s on ground described as good to firm, firm in places.

Hugo Palmer commented: "Best Of Days is a gorgeous horse. He was a little bit jarred up after his run at York, so I was terribly worried about the ground today.

"I told James to get him into top gear on the rising ground at the three-furlong pole and believe that he would stay. James did it absolutely to the letter.

"It wouldn’t surprised me if Best Of Days is also a little bit jarred up tomorrow morning but we are in no hurry to do anything with him now. The ground is fast today.

"We are going to dream from now until the Derby or until a trial that he could be a Derby horse."

James Doyle added: "The ground has dried out plenty and we could have done with a drop of water last night for Best Of Days. He was chopping and changing through the gears and found it quite tough so he has done it very well.

"It is only his third start. He definitely stays well and, while he has proved that he stays on quick ground, I think he will be much better with a bit of cut underfoot.

"If he keeps progressing, I don’t see why he couldn’t be a Derby horse."