Arod Streaks home in Diomed stakes

The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained four-year-old, who was ridden by Andrea Atzeni in the colours of Qatar Racing Ltd, led soon after the start and was not headed, winning by two lengths and a length and a quarter from Custom Cut and Complicit. The victory was fully deserved after Arod finished a close third in last month's Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, one of several high-class efforts in Stakes races.

Chapple-Hyam said of the four-year-old: "He's an exuberant horse, as he was at two and three. Last year I was asked to train him for the [Investec] Derby, which I did do, teaching him to switch off and stay. He did stay, but in doing so I put him over the top after the Derby - and the Juddmonte Stakes was not his true running.

"This year we opted to let him bowl, let him stride, and take him back to a mile. We decided to do that last year after the Juddmonte - it was Sheikh Fahad's idea, and while I wish I could say it was all my planning, it wasn't!

"I would like to have a go at a mile and a quarter with him, but that might not happen until the back end of the season. I think he will stay that trip - today he showed a big long stride, but he was always on the bit.

"The Queen Anne [at Royal Ascot, over a mile] is probably next, but we will only be fifth or sixth best going into that race - if we get a dry time between now and then that would suit and we might be brave."

David Redvers, racing manager to Qatar Racing Ltd, expressed concern that Royal Ascot might come too soon. He said: "It was a bit of a call to come here rather than go straight to Royal Ascot, but we were keen to get his head in front. He deserves this after a huge run in the Lockinge and we know he has the speed for a mile and will possibly stay ten furlongs.

"Today he was very impressive, and it was down to Sheikh Fahad's insistence that he should use his natural speed that it all worked out perfectly.

"We'll see how he comes out of the race but Royal Ascot may come too soon - if he'd have won here without coming off the bridle you would have no fear, but this is a tough place to come even if you do win well. Hopefully he'll be okay, but if not there are other targets later in the season.

"The breeder, Alberto Pannetta, told us we were mad to run him over a mile and a half last year and that his pedigree was much more about a mile. As the family get older they seem to get quicker. At the end of the day I have to provide horses for the big races, and at the time he seemed right for the Derby. Now he's back on the winning thread I hope he can win a Group One and become an exciting stallion prospect."

Picture of Arod winning the Investec Diomed Stakes - Dan Abraham