Passenger Strikes Late to Secure Eighth Huxley for Sir Michael Stoute

[Wandering Eyes]

Last term's G1 Derby 12th Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}–Dilmun, by War Front) continued on his pathway back to the highest level when striking late to secure a record-extending eighth renewal for veteran maestro Sir Michael Stoute in Friday's G2 Huxley S. at Chester.

Flaxman Stables' homebred 4-year-old settled into a smooth rhythm, within range of the leaders, in fifth for most of the extended 10-furlong test. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle into contention rounding the home turn, the 7-4 second favourite swept by last term's G2 Princess Of Wales's S. victor with 100 yards remaining and drew off from there to score by an ultimately comfortable 1 1/2-length margin.

Passenger, untested as a juvenile, opened up last term with victory in Newmarket's famed “Wood Ditton” before hitting the board in York's May 18 G2 Dante S. and came back off a break after his Derby reversal to close his sophomore campaign with a stakes breakthrough in August's G3 Winter Hill S. at Windsor when last seen.

Pedigree Notes

Passenger, the second of four live foals, is one of two scorers produced by a winning half-sister to G3 Flame Of Tara S. victrix Liquid Amber (Kitten's Joy). The March-foaled bay's second dam, MGSW GI Spinster S. and G1 Personal Ensign Invitational runner-up Pachattack (Pulpit), is a daughter of Listed Chalice S. second El Laoob (Red Ransom) and thus kin to the stakes-winning La Mina (Mineshaft), G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. runner-up El Sagrado (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Absolute Crackers (Ire) (Giant's Causeway). Passenger's dam Dilmun (War Front), who was bred to McKinzie last year, has the unraced 2-year-old colt Proteus (Karakontie {Jpn}) and a yearling filly by Karakontie (Jpn) to come.

 

Passenger returns in style to win the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at @ChesterRaces! pic.twitter.com/LvrBbsdEkM

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 10, 2024

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