Scandinavia looks a potential staying star of the future as the Justify colt runs away with the valuable Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes - the opening race of the Debenhams July Festival - in imperious fashion for jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners.
How he surged clear in the closing stages looked particularly impressive and the bookmakers presumably thought similar, with Paddy Power cutting the winner all the way into to 6-1 from 20s for the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster in September.
Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick Smith, said: “He seems to have progressed nicely from Ascot and Ryan was very happy with him – he said he’s uncomplicated, he got into a lovely rhythm and we could have some fun with him over those longer distances now.
“He was out wide for a long way at Ascot but he bounced out of the race very well and really enjoyed the ground today.
“The Irish Leger and the English Leger, all those sort of races are open to him and he could be a Cup horse next year, perhaps. We can plot our way towards all those nice staying races at the end of the year now.”
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