Headline act Lord North proved far too good for his opposition as he went one better than last year in the G3 BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield Park this afternoon.
The three-time G1 winner was the standout contender on form, although he had a significant absence to overcome having not seen competitive action since July.
Heading three contenders for John & Thady Gosden, Lord North broke sharpest from the stalls under Robert Havlin before settling in fourth as stable-mate Harrovian made the running.
Tyrrhenian Sea moved up to challenge Harrovian approaching the final three furlongs and the duo led the eight runners in to the straight, with Lord North and 2021 winner Forest Of Dean going well in behind.
Once switched out, Lord North found top gear passing the furlong pole and stretched clear in taking fashion to come home an impressive three-and-a-quarter-length winner. Tyrrhenian Sea held on for second, with the staying-on Foxes Tales a neck further back in third.
The BetUK Winter Derby is a Fast-Track Qualifier, with Lord North now guaranteed a start in the £200,000 Easter Classic at Newcastle on Good Friday, although a trip to Dubai now beckons for the seven-year-old.
Havlin said of the 8/11 favourite: “That was like clockwork. Lord North’s work has been a lot brighter and I think that was a better performance than last year, even though today did not have the depth of last year’s race.
“He was a bit laboured through the final furlong and a half here last year, whereas today I was always confident he was going to pick up.
“He is better on galloping tracks, coming off a strong pace, but his class shone through. He has been showing us a bit of that at home – it was as if he was back to being a four or five-year-old.
“Hopefully he can get back on song and win the Dubai Turf outright this year.”
Earlier on the card, three-time champion jockey Richard Hughes celebrated his first Listed winner as a trainer after Kimngrace (12/1) put in a power-packed finish to land the BetUK Hever Sprint.
Kimngrace had a wall of horses in front of her at the top of the straight but made rapid progress once in the clear to run down 10/3 favourite Tone The Barone in the final strides, with Miss Nay Never close up in third.
Hughes said: “I have a five-and-a-half-furlong race at Deauville in April in mind for Kimngrace and I said we needed to get a run into her if we are going over there on soft ground.
“In her run at Lingfield before, she got beat in an ordinary novice, but I felt I needed to run. It was either this race or a handicap but I thought I might as well have two bites of the cherry and try to get black type, so to win is brilliant.
“I told George to hang onto their tails as she is not quite quick enough for five around here. He did exactly as I said and was very brave. I am delighted for him because he works hard.”
Winning jockey George Rooke said: “We had a bit of a bad draw [9] and the boss just said to hang onto their tails. I was a good couple of lengths off them and I could not really go with them because we went a hard gallop.
“Two out, I was in two minds – whether to go around them or inside – but as I was thinking of coming out, she had her nose in a gap and took me through it.
“She found a lovely gear today and moved great. She hardly sweated either, which is a big thing for her as she is on her nerves a bit at home.”