Owen too good for Tourgeville Rivals

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni for trainer Francois Rohaut, he beat the Khalid Abdullah-owned pair of Projected and Inordinate by half a length and one length, gaining his first victory since being purchased privately by Qatar Racing. In May he finished third Longchamp's Gr.1 Poule d'Essai Des Poulains behind Makfi's son Make Believe.

He was subsequently unplaced at Chantilly in the Gr.1 Prix Jean Prat, but, quoted in today's Racing Post, Rohaut said: "I'm pleased and relieved, not only for the horse but also the owners because we were all disappointed that he was unable to run his true race on ground which may not have really suited him at Chantilly.

"Today was very instructive because he was settled some way off the pace and showed a really nice turn of foot to beat a good field. He will be given entries in the Prix du Moulin and Woodbine Mile [both top-grade races] and we will go where we can get genuinely good ground."

Bred in the US by Derry Meeting Farm, Mr Owen is the third foal out of the Gr.1 Prix Vermeille and Gr.1 E P Taylor Stakes heroine and Gr.1 Prix de Diane runner-up Mrs Lindsay (Theatrical).

In other news, the Qatar Racing pair of Arod and Lightning Spear are among 20 overseas entries for the Gr.1 Cox Plate, which is to be run at Australia's Spring Carnival. The duo finished first and second in Ascot's Gr.2 Summer Mile, when victory went to Arod - he subsequently went to the Qatar Goodwood Festival and ran a stormer when second to Solow in the Gr.1 Sussex Stakes.

Arod and Lightning Spear are entered for Goodwood's Gr.2 Celebration Mile on August 29.