Tyrrhenian Sea floors Maljoom in Lingfield feature

Tyrrhenian Sea caused a minor surprise in the BetMGM Tandridge Stakes when comfortably seeing off Maljoom at Lingfield.

Given Maljoom won the German Guineas and was narrowly beaten in the St James’s Palace as a three-year-old, he has always carried a tall reputation. However, he has been hard to train for William Haggas and as a result has been lightly raced.

His ability has never been in doubt, though, and on his last run he was not beaten far in a Group Two on Irish Champions Weekend.

Roger Varian’s Tyrrhenian Sea (5-2) is something of an all-weather specialist and with his flashy almost white mane and tail, has built up a cult following.

Dropping in trip having been mostly campaign over 10 furlongs of late, Jack Mitchell kicked on before leaving the back straight and with Maljoom failing to handle the bend particularly well, the race was over a long way out.

Tom Marquand did manage to straighten the 4-9 favourite up to close to within two and three-quarter lengths of the seven-year-old winner, but the result was never in doubt.

Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Stables, said: “He really enjoyed himself and looked happy back over a mile. He was given a very good ride from Jack.

“Doing that today opens up more options. I chatted briefly with Roger and he said to regroup in a few days when we’ll map out a programme.

“Obviously there’s Good Friday at Newcastle (Finals Day) and he holds an entry in the Lincoln, so let’s see what we think after a few days to reflect.

“The Winter Derby over a mile and three at Southwell just stretches him, it’s right on his limit. I suspect he won’t be going there, but all options are open.

“I suspect it will be more a mile than stepping back up to a mile and three.”

Varian said: “It was very good to see him win again, obviously that today back at a mile should give us more options.

“I can’t envisage us going back up to 11 furlongs for the Winter Derby, he ran well last year to be third but Jack didn’t feel he quite got home.

“Having seen him back at a mile I wouldn’t think that is on the agenda, so we’ll have a look at what is out there.

“He’s seven now, but he hasn’t had much racing and we’ve looked after him, he’s a real favourite at the yard given his nature and his markings.

“He’s run very good races in defeat so it’s lovely to get another win, it would be lovely to win a Group Three with him.

“If we stay at home there’s the Earl of Sefton, a Group Three, or the Bet365 Mile at Sandown, which is a Group Two. There’s not a lot on the all-weather for him.

“The races on Finals Day are handicaps now so he’d have a huge weight, which wouldn’t be ideal, I’m not sure what we’ll do to be honest. I’m just delighted for the Niarchos family that he’s back winning.”