Dark Moon Rising Lands £100,000 Woodford Reserve Cardinal Stakes

The third running of the £100,000 Woodford Reserve Cardinal Stakes resulted in the prize going north for the first time, with the Kevin Ryan-trained Dark Moon Rising claiming victory over the fast-finishing favourite Harrow.

Coming into the race on a mark of 90 from four starts as a juvenile, Dark Moon Rising made the perfect start to his three-year-old season, taking up the running under Kevin Stott off the home turn and staying on well in the straight to land the second win of his career and a first prize of £51,540 for owner Angie Bailey.

“He did everything right and jumped well,” said the winning jockey. “He travelled smoothly, picked up whenI asked him to and he hit the line good. He’s very exciting. Kevin’s horses are running well so fair play to him and the team at home.”

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s runner-up Harrow, the top-rated of the six runners on 103, and ran on late to claim second again, having filled the same spot in Kempton’s ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ Conditions Stakes on March 2. A large gathering of his owners in the Wisteria syndicate, along with Harry Herbert, were on course to cheer on Harrow, who picked up £24,170 for finishing second.

The quality quartet of placed finishers was completed by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Find, who took third for owner-breeder Prince A A Faisal, and Godolphin’s Blue Trail, trained by champion trainer Charlie Appleby, in fourth.

Dark Moon Rising has been given an entry for York’s Derby trial, the G2 Dante Stakes, on 12 May.