Newcomer proves a cut Above at Chelmsford

Above made an impressive winning debut for Qatar Racing in a novice auction stakes at Chelmsford on Thursday evening.

Above was sent off odds-on against 13 rivals in the £20 Free Bets At totesport.com Novice Auction Stakes over six furlongs and his supporters never had a moment's worry, soon across from the widest stall and always travelling powefully under Oisin Murphy. Above's response was generous when asked to quicken and he hit the line with three lengths to spare over second favourite Nat Love.

Above is trained by Lambourn trainer Archie Watson, who has also saddled fellow two-year-olds Lambeth Walk and Exclusively to success for Qatar Racing this season, while Sneaky and Illusionist have both finished second. Lambeth Walk goes for the Gr.2 Queen Mary and Exclusively for the Gr.3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Above is by first-season sire Anjaal and was bought privately by David Redvers for €150,000 after recording a bullet time at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. He was bred by J. Kilpatrick and Mme D. Ades Hazan, and consigned at the breeze-ups by Morna McDowall, having been purchased for €18,000 as a yearling by Tina Rau Bloodstock. Above's dam Broken Applause (by Acclamation) made a winnng debut in the June of her two-year-old year and went on to finish a close second in the Gr.3 Firth of Clyde Stakes.