Medicean Wins Lockinge Stakes; Arkadian Hero Sixth

Cheveley Park Stud's homebred Medicean rallied from fifth place in the early going under jockey Kieren Fallon to earn a neck-length victory over Warningford in the final strides of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) on Saturday at Newbury. Pacesetting 7-4 favorite Swallow Flight finished another neck back in third, three lengths clear of Danceabout. Umistim came home fifth, followed by Arkadian Hero and Sugarfoot. Observatory was scratched.

Medicean (Machiavellian--Mystic Goddess, by Storm Bird) completed the mile in 1:45.39 on soft turf, which was heavy in places on the backstretch.

The win is the first for the Sir Micheal Stoute trainee since he won the Celebration Mile (Eng-II) in August. That win followed a third-place finish to Giant's Causeway and Observatory in the Champagne Lanson Sussex Stakes (Eng-I). Saturday's victory improves the career record of the lightly raced 4-year-old to four wins from nine starts.

"He's been getting close and he's got a good year ahead of him," Stoute told Sporting Life. "He'll be running in Group One's and we tried him at a mile and a quarter last year but it was very inconclusive. In the Magnet Cup he was drawn 21 of 22 and getting banged and pushed out. We'll stick to mile in the future." (Chart, Sporting Life)