Windhoek pushed clear by Kieren Fallon to win the Gala Stakes

 PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos), BY TONY SMURTHWAITE3:41PM 4 JUL 2014 

Report: Sandown, Friday 

Ambant Gala Stakes (Listed), 1m2f 3yo+

 

The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained colt made short work of five rivals to open up any amount of options for Godolphin, who had given the son of Cape Cross no entries other than the Gala.

Sandown’s turf course clearly played to Windhoek’s advantage after defeats on Lingfield’s Polytrack, when second in the Winter Derby, then placed efforts over the undulations respectively of Goodwood and Epsom, in the Diomed Stakes at the Derby meeting.

The 5-4 favourite won by two-and-a-half lengths from 7-1 shot Amralah with Tha’ir third at 4-1.

“He’s a horse I’ve always liked and he won well,” said Fallon.

“I rode him in Dubai quite a lot, and I thought then he’d keep stepping up. There’s a lot more to come, and he doesn’t mind fast ground. He’s improved a lot.

“He didn’t really handle the track at Epsom, but he loved the hill here. He’ll progress to Group company now.”