Housesofparliament gets Aidan O’Brien off to great start at Newmarket

Housesofparliament gave Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore the perfect start to the July meeting when coming out on top in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

Viewed as a St Leger trial, the winner was given quotes ranging from 10-1 to 14-1 for the final Classic of the season.

Last seen finishing fourth at Royal Ascot in the King Edward VII Stakes behind Across The Stars, the Galileo colt was well on top at the finish.

With two furlongs to travel nearly all of the nine runners still had a chance and were spread right across the track, but the favourite Prize Money was one of the first beaten.

Mick Channon’s Harrison briefly looked like stamping his authority on the field but on meeting the rising ground Housesofparliament (9-2) really picked up strongly.

He powered a length and a half clear of Michael Stoute’s Platitude, with Harrison third.

Moore said: “Aidan’s horses all take their racing very well. This horse has run on soft ground all year and it’s the first time he’s had decent ground and he’s relished it.

“He saw it out well and the ground has made a difference to him today.”

Kevin Buckley, representing the winning owners, said: "We were quite pleased with that, I suppose it's the best ground he's encountered all year and it's obviously to his liking.

“He saw out the extra furlong well. He settled well in the race, they went slow early on.

“Ryan said he went sooner than he wanted, but the horse responded well.

“Aidan will get him home and we’ll see where we go. The trip is not a problem, it’s a matter of finding that ground.”

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, owner of Platitude, said: "He's run really well and has obviously improved since Ascot.

“At Ascot he was drawn pretty wide and he was wide the whole way round, but the winner (Primitivo) won on merit. He ran a super race and it gave us confidence to come for this.

“I think he stayed well enough to the line. I’ve not had a real good talk to Frankie (Dettori) yet but we have to be pleased with that.

“He will have some interesting options.”

Mehmas paid a handsome compliment to his Royal Ascot conqueror Caravaggio when running out a ready winner of the Arqana July Stakes.

Richard Hannon’s colt has been kept busy in the first half of the season and beat all bar O’Brien’s colt in the Coventry Stakes.

Everything appeared to go smoothly for Frankie Dettori, who got a nice tow into the race from Yalta and Barrington and when he pulled him out to challenge the 11-4 favourite quickened up nicely.

Broken Stones, having just his second run, challenged up the rail, while Intelligence Cross, a stablemate of Caravaggio, made plenty of ground from the rear but Mehmas and Dettori won by half a length.

Ardad, John Gosden’s winner of the Windsor Castle, was the big disappointment of the race and finished last.

Dettori said: “He sticks his head down and tries really hard. You are always guaranteed a good run from him.

“I’m pleased because he tries so hard and he deserved the win.

“He’s uncomplicated. He knows he’s got a kick, so it’s down to me to press the button. Once you press it he goes.

“He’s very versatile goes on any ground like he proved at Ascot. He goes on soft, it was good to firm today.

“He’s a good horse with a sweet nature and I’m sure he’ll win plenty of races.”

Hannon said: “Frankie gave him a lovely ride and he’s probably getting lazy as he’s never shown us much at home, he tends to just do enough.

“We can look forward to Goodwood now, I think he deserved a nice win after the Coventry.

“It obviously didn’t dishearten him, getting beaten, and he is definitely better on fast ground.

“He’s in the Phoenix Stakes so we’ll look between that and the Richmond.

“He looks like a two-year-old unless he shoots up two inches, so we’ll have to make hay while the sun shines.”