Henry Candy has every reason to hope Run To Freedom can land a Group One later in the season having outrun his odds to finish second in the Pertemps Network July Cup.
The five-year-old, who has found the scoresheet six times over the course of his career, went on his way at 28-1 but found just the imperious Shaquille too good in the Newmarket feature and showed a good attitude to gallop all the way to the line and hold off Ralph Beckett’s Kinross for the silver medal.
It was the second time Run To Freedom has had to play the bridesmaid in Group One contests having also finished second, ironically behind old rival Kinross, in the British Champions Sprint Stakes last October.
Candy is now keen to continue plying his charge’s trade at the highest level and he is likely to head to Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup on September 9 before a return to Ascot on British Champions Day as he searches for a first elite prize.
Candy said: “He’s a very able horse and we knew he could do that, he showed it at Salisbury and when second behind Kinross in the Champions Sprint last year. You can never quite rely on him, which is why he starts at these ridiculous prices, but the ability is there.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he was able to win one before the end of the year. We’ll go to Haydock and we’ll go to Ascot in October.”
Meanwhile, Beckett was thrilled with the performance of Kinross who was beaten a short-head for second.
The six-year-old was the intended mount of the suspended Frankie Dettori as the Italian attempted to complete a full house of British Group One victories, but it was William Buick who did the steering on this occasion.
Having embarked on a four-race winning run in the second half of last season, he could now return to further with the Kimpton Down handler eyeing a similar programme.
Beckett said: “I’m delighted with him. It’s a shame we didn’t get second, but that’s life and Run To Freedom is a very good horse. I’m really pleased, it’s a shade on the easy side for him going six here.
“He’ll go to Goodwood and then probably York and Longchamp and then Ascot.”
The supplemented Khaadem had to settle for fifth place on the back of his Royal Ascot triumph, while Little Big Bear – runner-up to Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup – was last of the eight runners having been eased by Ryan Moore when his chance went after being hampered.
