Ad Valorem's Morton's Fork Delivers in Sandown Guineas

After receiving few breaks in the run, Godolphin's Morton's Fork came with a barnstorming finish under Craig Williams to win Saturday's $250,000 Group II Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas (1600m).

Taken back by Williams to second last to avoid being trapped wide, Morton's Fork made his challenge down the centre of the track to inflict the first defeat of Ciaron Maher's Domesday colt Ruthven by a short-head with High Chaparral's daughter Jennifer Lynn three-quarters of a length back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer).

"I had to revert to plan C but I always thought I was going to get there," Williams said,

"No-one went to the rail, everyone came out and I had to go back to second last to get some cover.

"When I rode him last start at Flemington I was worried if I waited until the dip and ride him pretty they might outsprint me.

"I got at him a fair way out and every time I asked him to stretch he just found more for me.

"I love his character, he's a beautiful colt that is performing and he relaxed so well for me there's no reason to think he can't get 2000 metres in the autumn."

O'Shea's Melbourne foreman David Charles said the son of Ad Valorem would be aimed at the top races next spring.

"He's a very honest horse. His form suggests that. He knows how to hit the line, and he proved that today," Charles said.

"John's had a really good opinion of him. We're very happy with the way he's trained since he's come to Melbourne. He was unlucky at Caulfield and was super at Flemington.

"We expected him to run well today, and he delivered.

"He's a very exciting horse for us. He knows where the winning post is, and that's a great attribute to have in any sort of horse."

With his first stakes success, the John O'Shea trained colt advances his overall record to 4 wins and 4 seconds from 9 starts with earnings of $410,775.

The son of Ad Valorem (USA) is a three-quarter brother to the talented Pied A Terre who won four of his 9 starts in Australia highlighted by the Group II Autumn Stakes and was runner-up in the Group II Blamey Stakes won by Green Moon and the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas won by Free Wheeling.

Morton's Fork is the second foal of the Lonhro mare Dilemmas who failed to win in five starts.

Like Ad Valorem (USA), Dilemmas has also been moved on by Darley who sold her to Dalama Holdings for $10,000 at the 2014 Inglis Easter Broodmare sale.

Dilemmas is a granddaughter of the top-class Shavano Miss a 5-time stakes-winner including a pair of Group II's.

The daughter of Lonhro has a yearling filly by Hinchinbrook and was covered by Uncle Mo (USA) last spring.

Morton's Fork becomes the 14^th stakes-winner for Danzig's dual Group 1 winner Ad Valorem (USA) stands at Cangon Stud at a fee of $4,400.