LANCELOT DU LAC is as good as ever at the age of eight and won his second race of the year and his thirteenth in total at Chelmsford last night.
The eight-year-old son of Shamardal was one of six runners in the six furlong Conditions Stakes at the Essex track and the 15/8 second favourite was always in contention after breaking well under Robert Winston. Tracking the leaders early on, he made an effort to challenge a furlong from home and took the lead, was driven out and stayed on well to win by half a length from Double Up.
Lancelot Du Lac’s finest hour was probably his Stewards’ Cup victory last summer under Frankie Dettori but nine of his career successes have been on the all-weather. Tapeta and polytrack come alike to the Lance and he has won at Chelmsford, Lingfield, Kempton and Wolverhampton.
While Robert Winston has won on him seven times, the list of jockeys who have also ridden him to victory is a hall of fame. Former champion jockeys, Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Jim Crowley have all steered Lancelot Du Lac to success while French jockey, Godolphin’s Mickael Barzalona, who in 2011 won the Derby on Pour Moi at the tender age of 19, has also been a winning jockey on one of Harper Lodge Farm’s stable stars.
The stable had four runners at Chelmsford and it was another good night for the yard. Lucymai was second, beaten just a neck in a competitive seven furlong handicap in which stablemate Eljaddaaf was a fast finishing fourth, only half a length behind her.
Still in April, the stable has made the best ever start to a season with sixteen winners on the board and knocking on the £200,000 prize money door.
If you would like to get involved in a friendly, professional and successful stable, please call Dean Ivory Racing on 01923 855337 or email deanivoryracing@gmail.com.