Racing: Keltos wings clear for Peslier

Lockinge winner shows top-class acceleration to stake early claim for mile supremacy

Olivier Peslier overcame the vagaries of the Swanwick air-traffic control system, a rough passage down the Newbury straight and, finally, the flashing teeth of favourite Noverre to guide French raider Keltos to victory in the Lockinge Stakes, the first round of the European Group One miling circuit, here yesterday.

Flying from Paris, the jockey was caught up in the backlog of computer-induced delays and chaos and was diverted from Heathrow airport to Gatwick, missing a win on Shagraan in the second race. In the £172,000 feature, his progress was more briefly thwarted a furlong and a half out as Michael Kinane on Olden Times instigated a concertina effect. As they and No Excuse Needed jostled for position, Jamie Spencer took the initiative and drove Noverre to the front.

But once clear, Keltos showed top-class acceleration, although as Peslier ranged the near-white winner level with Noverre inside the final furlong, the Godolphin colt, who started a 5-6 shot to give the Dubai-based operation its fourth Lockinge Stakes in five years, turned his head and appeared to try to bite his rival. It made no difference to the result; Keltos's turn of foot was decisive and his three-and-half length victory sets the standard among the older horses in the division.

The son of Kendor, trained in Chantilly by Carlos Laffon-Parias, may now try to emulate the winner here 12 months ago, Medicean, in trying to carry his Group One penalty successfully in the Group Two Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

Laffon-Parias was absent, attending the confirmation of a daughter in his native Spain, but the grey colt's London-based owner, Gary Tanaka, said: "The penalty at Ascot is unfortunate and, really, a high-quality race like it at a meeting like that should be Group One." Keltos's season will centre on the top races in Europe and North America – the Sussex Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Atto Mile and Breeders' Cup Mile were just four mentioned yesterday. "It is much more fun winning in Europe than the States," added Tanaka.

Kinane, who eventually finished third on Olden Times, a length and a half behind Noverre and one place in front of No Excuse Needed, picked up a two-day ban (27 and 28 May) for his efforts in the saddle, which were judged by stewards to be careless. It was an up-and-down day for the Irishman; he replaced Peslier on Shagraan in the London Gold Cup and later landed the gamble of the day on Barathea Blazer, who was backed from 10-1 to 11-4 favourite, in the 12-furlong handicap.

Noverre will now step up in trip, with the ten-furlong Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot his next target. "He was in front soon enough and it would have been better if the ones in front could have taken him along a bit further," said the blues' racing manager, Simon Crisford, "but the best horse on the day won. We knew from his work that he was ready to go further, but we thought we might just get away with it over a mile. But against a progressive horse, we didn't."

High Pitched continued the revival in Henry Cecil's fortunes in the past week with a scintillating seven-length romp in the Aston Park Stakes. A Listed success is a long way from the top, but the beautifully named chestnut (by Indian Ridge out of Place de l'Opera) will be worth his place in the Coronation Cup on Oaks day. The one caveat is his difficult temperament; he is so awkward that he has to wear blinkers to make him co-operate at home on the gallops. He ran too freely in the headgear when it was tried at Newmarket earlier in the month but, without it yesterday, though genuine in the race, he had to be backed into the parade ring and led, almost dragged, to the start.

Dubai Destination will be the main Godolphin contender in the Predominate Stakes, the sole remaining recognised Derby trial, at Goodwood on Tuesday. But whatever happens on the Sussex Downs, the home side for the Epsom Classic will face a fearsome challenge from Co Tipperary, now confirmed as two-pronged. After Hawk Wing's narrow and unlucky defeat at the hands of stablemate Rock Of Gibraltar in the 2,000 Guineas, there was some speculation that he would sidestep Epsom in favour of a rematch with his Newmarket conqueror in next Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas, but yesterday, in a statement as economical as most of his pronouncements, trainer Aidan O'Brien gave the colt the Blue Riband green light.

"Hawk Wing goes straight to the Epsom Derby," he announced after watching the imposing colt take his morning exercise. The son of Woodman has been contesting Derby favouritism with another stablemate, High Chaparral, since finishing a neck second in the Guineas after racing on the unfavourable side of the track. Rock Of Gibraltar, who will be joined at the Curragh on Saturday by Century City, will be seeking to become the first horse since Rodrigo De Triano ten years ago to complete the English-Irish Guineas double.

One of the most eagerly awaited four-year-old debuts will take place in Paris today, as the Group One focus switches to Longchamp. For an owner-breeder like Khaled Abdullah to keep a filly in training after her second season, particularly one who has already proved herself at the top level, is something special and hopes are high that Banks Hill, so impressive in last year's Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf, will prove herself a genuine superstar.