May 10, 2019 | News
Morando powers away to land fourth WH Stayers' Million qualifier
The Andrew Balding-trained Morando relished the step-up in trip as he beat the odds-on favourite Kew Gardens in the fourth qualifying race for the 2109 Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million at Chester yesterday afternoon.
Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, in the colours of King Power Racing Co Ltd, the son of Kendargent kicked strongly off the bottom turn in the Group 3 Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes, relished the soft under foot conditions, and was ridden out impressively to score by eight lengths from the market leader.
Speaking after the race, Balding said: "He loves the ground, which is key to him. We didn't particularly expect to beat the favourite, but he just relished the conditions and runs well fresh.
"He was new to me last year and we ran him on ground too fast for him twice and then we got the ground right. He found his feet and he stays well, which is the one thing we discovered and that has opened up some options."
Attention now turns to the next two qualifying races â firstly at Berlin-Hoppegarten for the Comer Group International Oleander-Rennen on Sunday 12th May, and then York for the Matchbook Yorkshire Cup on Friday 17th May.