Choisya makes all for Cape Verdi title

Charlie Appleby’s Romantic Style suffered a surprise defeat as Simon and Ed Crisford’s Choisya made every yard of the running in the Group Two Cape Verdi at Meydan.

Mickael Barzalona was allowed to set what appeared a slow pace while all her rivals were fighting for their heads in behind.

Just as William Buick might have hoped he had won the battle in getting last year’s French 1000 Guineas fourth Romantic Style settled, Ultima came up on her outside which lit her up again.

Meanwhile Barzalona showed his skill by gradually increasing the pace before putting Choisya’s turn of foot to good use over a furlong out.

Romantic Style went into a clear second but when Choisya (5-1) pulled further clear, Buick accepted the situation fairly quickly.

Barzalona said: “I got it easily from the front. I set my own pace and when I asked her to quicken, she went and won very well.

“It would have been nice to get a lead but no one else wanted to go forward, so then I just tried to go my pace and the others were quite happy to stay back.

“This is a very nice race to win for connections.”