Newmarket G2 glory for Choisir

18th October 2008

The admirably consistent Choisir colt Stimulation (3c Choisir-Damiana, by Thatching) was a decisive length and a quarter winner of the G2 Victor Challenge Stakes on Champions’ Day at Newmarket on Saturday.

Hughie Morrison’s charge, a 92,000gns yearling bred by Illuminatus Investments, won the Listed European Free Handicap at Newmarket in April and most recently finished third in a valuable contest in Turkey.

"He coughed badly on Tuesday and I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had run a flat race today. We did little with him after that - I think he probably just had something in his throat - and has actually only had a couple of five-furlong breezes since he ran in Turkey," said Morrison.

"This victory was a real team effort and is very fulfilling. I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse that has been so straightforward. Our other good horses such as Alcazar, Pastoral Pursuits and Sakhee’s Secret all had their problems but this horse has just been so easy to train. He only ran one bad race this year, at Ascot.

"He ran a serious race in Turkey and was beaten by two Group One horses (Pressing and Linngari). He will stay in training next year and a mile on a straight course should suit him, so I have visions of races such as the G1 Lockinge Stakes and the G1 Queen Anne Stakes.

"Darryll (Holland, the winning jockey) actually said we should go to Hong Kong at the end of the year. We had originally planned to finish his season in this race, but we could maybe reconsider now."