Circus Maximus© Photo Healy Racing
Circus Maximus was a workmanlike winner of the Homeserve Dee Stakes at Chester.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt, who was a close-up fourth behind subsequent 2000 Guineas-winning stablemate Magna Grecia at Doncaster in the Futurity Trophy, was sent off the 5-4 favourite.
The Galileo colt was being niggled along at an early stage by Ryan Moore, but did come back on the bridle at halfway.
Turning into the short home straight, as Allmankind dropped away Circus Maximus was left in front and was two lengths clear.
Mohawk, another stablemate and carrying a 5lb penalty, came out of the pack to chase down the winner but could only get within a length and a quarter.
An eyecatcher was Andrew Balding’s Fox Chairman, who slightly missed the break and found himself behind a wall of horses when the pace quickened before staying on into third.
O’Brien said: “You would be delighted with the two of them, they were two lovely runs. The two of them were in the Guineas up to the last stage. You would always prefer better ground, but it was good they went through with it.
“He (Circus Maximus) is a relaxed horse and just needed to learn a little bit, so it was lovely to come here. He got a lovely, handy break as he can get lazy in his races and he dropped back, then Ryan moved him up and he came back on the bridle.
“Ryan said in an ideal world he would have preferred to have a lead for a little while longer, but you couldn’t be happier.
“The great thing about here is that they have to have quick feet and they have to learn to jump, travel and keep going. The ground was slow, so he had to work a bit harder.”
