Harry Davies successfully steered Soldier's Heart to a second-course success from as many starts to claim the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy Stakes at Ripon.
A commanding winner of a Goodwood maiden on his second outing, connections opted to run him in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes back at the same venue, but he looked to struggle to go the pace that day, ultimately finishing five lengths behind the winner in eighth.
The Simon and Ed Crisford team subsequently moved their colt up to six furlongs when returning to novice company at Ripon, where he would go on to successfully deliver under Davies.
A return to the Yorkshire venue would be on the cards for Soldier's Heart and he was sent off the 15/8 market leader to get the better of his six rivals. The son of Havana Grey travelled strongly on the front end under Davies, before kicking clear inside the two-furlong marker. Benevento did his best to make a race of things inside the final furlong, but in all truth, he never looked like closing the gap as Soldier's Heart went on to a comfortable two-length triumph.
Richard Fahey's debut winner Mearall finished back in third, but stablemate Shadow Army, who was fourth in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last time, never looked like landing a blow and was ultimately tailed off under James Doyle.
"He's come on again from his last run," said the winning rider on Sky Sports Racing. "He jumped great from the gates, and he was more streetwise today, he was having a good look around the last day.
"Him being here before has obviously helped him out, some horses find it quite hard the first time, but he has definitely come on and he handled the conditions great. He's compact, he's bred to be very fast and the step back up to six furlongs has definitely helped him. He was good today.
"He's in the Mill Reef (Newbury, September 21) and the Middle Park (Newmarket, September 28) and those options are obviously open to him now. If he keeps going the way he is, we'll be happy.
"At Goodwood in the Molecomb, he was pretty much run off his feet, it was the first time I rode him and obviously Goodwood is a very sharp five – when they get unbalanced coming down the hill, they never really have much of a chance, he only got going in the last furlong.
"We knew if we took him somewhere he'd be comfortable, he could get his head in front once again."
