Anglophile recorded a second successive victory in the £19,000 32Red.com Conditions Stakes (2.55pm) at Lingfield Park on Saturday, January 23, to set up another crack at All-Weather Championships Finals Day on March 25.
In winning this two-mile Fast-Track Qualifier again, the Godolphin five-year-old receives an automatic free place in the £150,000 32Red All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes over the same course and distance on Good Friday. The son of Dubawi, trained by Charlie Appleby, was beaten a head by Mymatechris in the stayers' highlight of the All-Weather Championships on Finals Day last year. Anglophile, sent off the 2/1 second favourite today, was settled in fourth of the seven runners before producing a strong burst under Martin Lane to lead a furlong out and run on to win by half a length from the fast finishing 10/1 chance Ballynanty (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) who failed to a get a clear run. Charlie Appleby and Godolphin were also responsible for the 13/8 favourite Pinzolo, who finished a length behind Ballynanty in third after making most of the running under Adam Kirby. The winning time was 3m 20.40s. Martin Lane commented: "They have gone a strong gallop, which is the key to Anglophile as he is an out-and-out stayer. He switched off lovely and I knew that they were going a solid gallop in front, so I was always happy. "I spoke to Charlie earlier and we knew that there was plenty of speed in the race and the plan was to pick up the pieces. "It was his third run of the season, so he was going to be qualified for Good Friday no matter what happened. It was just a question of whether we were going to get a good gallop today or not and, thankfully, we did. "It's hard to tell whether he is better this year compared to last season. The two that have beaten him this season are quality, improving horses. Anglophile is tough but he just needs a genuine gallop and this was the first time that he has had it this season. "He had finished second on his three previous starts, when they have gone steady, but the solid gallop today suited him so well. "He will be coming against better horses again on Good Friday, so hopefully we will be guaranteed a strong pace. Whether he is good enough is another question but, if they go half a stride too quick, he will always pick them up." Godolphin representative James Ferguson said: "Anglophile is a seasoned professional, who loves it round Lingfield. "They have gone a strong pace - Martin has sat there, waited and then taken off. Anglophile will come back for Good Friday now. "I am really pleased with Pinzolo as well. Adam said that he would have been grateful for a cleaner run through at the beginning. We know that he stays - he is by Monsun, so two miles is not a problem - and we will see where to go next we him and, if we can, try to qualify him for Good Friday too."
