The Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes (1m) at Newmarket overnight produced a good result for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained filly Kitty Rose, who ran a good second to Night of Thunder colt Al Musmak.
Acquired privately by the Price Kent stable prior to Royal Ascot, Kitty Rose finished fifth of 30 there in the Sandringham Stakes and raced well again here chasing home the Roger Varian trained Al Musmak to be beaten two and a quarter lengths.
A stakes-winner last season at two, Al Musmak was dropping back from two unplaced runs in Group races and returned to form to take his record to three wins and two placings from seven starts.
“He ran poorly in the Dante in May, but I didn’t think he ran too badly at Ascot in a very hot Hampton Court Stakes,” said Roger Varian.
“He didn’t quite get home and after that we were always going to come back to a mile. He’s really enjoyed the conditions out there, the race set up nicely and he was strong at the finish, so we are delighted to get him back on track.”
Al Musmak was purchased for 95,000 guineas by Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah and is the first winner for Parton, an unraced half-sister by Kitten’s Joy to stakes-winner Sailing Solo and to the dam of Australian Group III winner Recommendation.
Parton is a daughter of Group I winner Proviso with this Juddmonte family also producing Frankel Group winner Delaware (GB), who stands at Woodside Park Stud in Victoria.
