Yellowstone goes in for O'Brien

Aidan O'Brien saddled another big-race winner when Yellowstone held off Aqaleem in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

Set some very stiff tasks this season, the son of Rock Of Gibraltar ran a stormer in the Eclipse on his last start and was sent off the 5-2 joint-favourite along with the Derby third.

Yellowstone was always handy and made a bid for home two furlongs out, while Richard Hills was short of room on his chief market rival. But even when he got in the clear, Aqaleem could never quite get on terms and was a neck down at the line. Raincoat was a further three-quarters of a length away in third.

Jockey Johnny Murtagh said: "They went nice and steady early on and I found myself in a good position. He idled a bit when he got to the front but he stayed on well again when they came to him. He's a nice horse.

"They didn't go a mad gallop so it was (a bit tactical) but I was near enough to the pace and when I asked him to quicken, he stayed on well again."

Part-owner Michael Tabor added: "Aidan thought he had a very good chance and his form was there for all to see. It looked a messy race, they went a bit slow and Johnny said he would have liked the ground a bit firmer as he's a big, strong horse."

"I don't think he is a Leger horse. Aidan might have different ideas, but from what Johnny told me he isn't a Leger horse. A mile and a quarter to a mile and a half would be his trip, with a little bit less juice in the ground.

"I have not discussed it with Aidan but Mahler might be more of the St Leger horse and he (Yellowstone) could be more of an Arc horse."

Marcus Tregoning said of the runner-up: "He was unfortunate, there was a lack of pace and I think he should have won, but it (trouble in running) can happen here. There is always another day and I'll have to talk to the owner, but I'd be quite tempted to go straight to Doncaster."