Majestic Roi comes to life in Sun Chariot

Majestic Roi took a bold step forward at Newmarket on Saturday when she won a high-class renewal of the Group 1, $377,000 Sun Chariot Stakes. The Street Cry filly had four Group 1 winners behind her after she came from well out of it for a sharp three-quarter-length victory over Nannina.

Big things were expected of Majestic Roi after she had won the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes in April, but she never seemed to pan out for trainer Michael Channon. Allowed to get away at 16-1 Saturday, she charged home under Darryll Holland, getting the straight mile in 1:37.83. Channon said this would be the last race of the season for Majestic Roi, who will return to the races next year.

Not so for Nannina or third-place Echelon, both of whom are owned and bred by Cheveley Park Stud. Both Groupo1 winners will be sent to the breeding barn in the spring, Nannina with the Group 1 Coronation Stakes and the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes under her belt, and Echelon as the winner of the Group 1 Matron Stakes.

* After winning two Group 3 races in Ireland and finishing second in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, Creachadoir was snapped up - like so many promising 3-year-olds - by Godolphin. On Saturday he made his debut for Saeed bin Suroor a winning one with a smashing three-length score in the Group 3, $101,000 Joel Stakes. Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the 11-4 co-favorite covered the mile in 1:36.88 and is currently under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Mile as well as the Hong Kong Mile.