By Peter Moore at Salisbury Wednesday 13th August 2025
John & Thady Gosden completed a Class 1 Listed Race double after Morris Dancer and Miss Justice scored at Salisbury on Wednesday afternoon.
Morris Dancer stormed to victory in the Stonehenge Stakes, with an hour later Miss Justice just holding on to beat Revoir in the British Stallion Studs EBF Upavon fillies stakes.
Godolphin’s son of Palace Pier, Morris Dancer was appearing just two weeks on from narrowly missing out on the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.
Under William Buick, he faced just two opponents in the 1m event. A Bit Of Spirit made all entering two furlongs from home with Buick poised to make a challenge. When he challenged his main market rival he moved clear with a nice turn of foot to go on and win by four lengths.
The winner is now being lined up at the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and has an entry in the Royal Lodge Stakes.
Joint-trainer Thady Gosden said: “It was a good race, the second is a smart horse who ran well at Ascot last time out. He was finishing well at Goodwood and the step up to a mile suited him. He’s still learning, it’s only his fourth start, he was a bit green in front so hopefully he can take another step forward.
“He’s not the tallest but he’s got plenty of strength. He just bounced out of Goodwood and was doing all his best work late and, with the ground in good condition, we thought we’d come here. It’s fantastic for his sire Palace Pier, who’s going great guns.
“We’ve put him in the Champagne and could drop him back in trip. We’ll see how he comes out of this and make a plan.”
Miss Justice had a much harder race than Morris Dancer, having to hold of the challenge of the Ralph Beckett trained Revoir by a head.
Having won at Southwell over a mile and a half 31 days ago, the drop in trip by two furlongs didn’t hamper the four-year-old who gave Buick a double on the card.
Andrew Balding’s two-year-old’s are beginning to make a big impression this season and the Kingsclere trainer looks to have a smart one on his hands.
Despite taking a keen hold on the way to post, Jason Watson managed to settle the colt who went on and won cosily by four lengths in impressive fashion.
Sunny Corner made it four wins at Salisbury after taking the 1m handicap under claimer Jack Dace.
Having won previously over CD, the gelding was looking to bounce back after a disappointing run at Chepstow.
The result was never in doubt, with the three-year-old bolting up to win by seven lengths.
First time headgear in the form of a hood helped Rhyme Dust put in an improved effort to lift the 6f novice stakes under Tom Marquand.
Once the filly hit the front, there was only going to be one result with the three-year-old running on in decent style to score by 4 ¾ lengths.
Joe Tickle continued his fine run when Offiah’s Boy landed the 1m2f handicap under Taylor Fisher. It was a fourth win from eight runners for the Devon trainer.