Mount Athos (11-8) cruised to victory in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester as favourite Memphis Tennessee flopped for Aidan O'Brien.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Jamie Spencer was positive from the off aboard the Luca Cumani-trained winner, going a decent clip throughout on last year's Melbourne Cup fifth, while Moore settled Memphis Tennessee in second on the inside.
The distress signals were evident aboard Memphis Tennessee from some way out, leaving admirable dual-purpose performer Mad Moose to emerge as the only challenger, but Mount Athos had already flown and Spencer barely had to hit third gear aboard the winner to triumph by nine lengths.
Owner Dr Marwan Koukash is now hoping to turn out again quickly at York next week, although Cumani is not keen.
"We could take him to York next week (for the Yorkshire Cup) as he hasn't really had a race today," Koukash said.
"The Melbourne Cup is the ultimate aim. We may take him to Ascot for the Gold Cup, speaking to the handicapper in Australia, they assure me for an Ascot Gold Cup winner it would be no more than 55kg so we may consider that."
Cumani quickly shot down the idea of a quick return on the Knavesmire, though.
He said: "He doesn't go (to York). He's too good a horse to run that often. Marwan gave me two objectives this year, this race and the Melbourne Cup, so now it's all eyes on the Melbourne Cup.
"He's a very, very generous horse and puts a lot into what he does. He's always very eager to please and although he looks like he's doing it easily, he does put a lot of effort in. Last year he won his three races in England nicely spaced out and I think we'll stick with the plan.
"He will probably have another two, or maybe three races, before the Melbourne Cup but we're not going to abuse him at this stage."
