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Earthlight maintains unbeaten record with impressive Middle Park Stakes victory

Racenews

Two-year-old colt Earthlight made it five wins from five outings when successful in the G1 Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, 28 September.

The Andre Fabre-trained son of Shamardal was settled in sixth of the eight runners by jockey Mickael Barzalona as King Neptune took the field along at a good pace. Earthlight began to make progress approaching the final quarter mile and moved into a challenging position entering the last furlong. He took up the running inside the final furlong and ran on strongly to win by a neck from Golden Horde in a time of 1m 09.31s on good ground, breaking Newmarket's juvenile course record.

Andre Fabre said: “I was very confident all the way as Earthlight was travelling easily and I knew there was something under the saddle.

“I definitely see him as being able to get a mile in the future and, with his pedigree, I think he could even go a bit further.

“We will now look at preparing him for the 2,000 Guineas next year. He will now go back home to eat well and sleep, as he usually does.

“I have been fortunate enough to have trained some great two-year-olds including Zafonic, who was a machine. Earthlight is a different sort of horse but is very exciting.”

Mickael Barzalona added: “I was very pleased with Earthlight today and he has improved a lot.

“He travelled easily. I had some cover for the first furlong and I was very pleased with how nicely he won in the end.

“At the moment, we have not gone beyond six furlongs with Earthlight, but I think he would stay a mile.

“I have been lucky enough to ride some top-class two-year-olds and Earthlight is the best. He really is very good.”