Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the son of Speighstown showed the benefit of his initial experience when breaking alertly from the stalls and he travelled powerfully under Jim Crowley, who sported the royal blue and white-striped cap having chosen Sarookh over Sheikh Hamdan’s other two representatives in the race.
Shaken up rounding the home bend, Sarookh soon put daylight between himself and the nearest pursuers passing through the final quarter mile and Jim did not need to get too serious to readily account for Fakhoor, Sing Out Loud and Maghaweer, leading home a one, two four for his boss.
A half-brother to three winners from a fine American family that includes Grade 1 winner Grand Couturier, Sarookh is clearly well suited by an artificial surface and he looks capable of further progress before the season comes to a close.
Roger said: “Sarookh shaped promisingly first time out and this was a clear step forward on the formbook. While he ought to stay 7f, he shows plenty of speed and the all-weather suits him well. He should continue to progress.”