Newbury: Farhh finally gets his Group 1 in J.T. Lockinge

Farhh finished second in four Group 1 stakes during his 2012 campaign, but won at the highest level in his first start of 2013, scoring a sharp victory Saturday at Newbury in the Group 1 J.T. Lockinge Stakes.

Always prominent in the straight-course mile under Silvestre De Sousa, Farhh burst to the lead in the final quarter-mile and never was challenged, running on to a four-length victory over Sovereign Debt. Aljamaaheer finished third, with Declaration of War, who was fifth, and Cityscape, who checked in last of 12, both disappointing on the day. Winning time for one mile on quick, good ground was 1:35.43.

Farhh already is benefitting this year from the retirement to stud of Frankel, who won the 2012 Lockinge and twice beat Farhh into second-place finishes later in the season. Farhh also was second by a half-length in the Group 1 Eclipse and second by a heads in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin, and was overdue to record the Group 1 victory he finally notched Saturday.

The win, the second on the card for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, also boosted the stock of Godolphin, which has been through difficult times this spring with former trainer Mahmood al Zarooni’s eight-year suspension for using prohibited medication on Godolphin horses that are banned from racing until autumn. Bin Suroor won his fifth Lockinge, scoring this time with a 5-year-old son of Pivotal who was bred by Godolphin’s sister operation, Darley.