EXHORT, a four-year-old daughter of DUTCH ART, belied odds of 25/1 to storm to victory in the Listed Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract. Steered through runners by Paul Hanagan, EXHORT finished with a rattle to defeat last year’s 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook (Champs Elysees) by the best part of a length. The Richard Fahey-trained filly had already acquitted herself well in Listed company this term when finishing second in the Rothesay Stakes and fourth in the Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes. Dropped back to a mile, EXHORT relished the honest gallop and was able to show her class up the stiff finish to give Cheveley Park Stud a third winner in the Pipalong Stakes since it’s inception in 2003.
EXHORT is the seventh Stakes winner by DUTCH ART out of a PIVOTAL mare, a cross that is responsible for the Group 1 winner MABS CROSS and Group 3 winner ZONDERLAND.