Kazeem kickstarts Doyle's day

Al Kazeem ran away with the Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.

The first weekend in May promises to be a big 48 hours in the seasons of Roger Charlton and James Doyle with Top Offer running in the Guineas and Cityscape in Hong Kong for the new partnership.

Their Saturday got off to the best possible start with a most taking performance from Al Kazeem in the Group Two 12 furlong contest with the son of Dubawi running right away from a competitive field to score by four and a half lengths despite drifting left-handed.

Nearer last than first in the early stages of the contest as St Leger winner Masked Marvel took them along, the four year old picked up takingly for Doyle to put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

The always prominent Quest For Peace gave vain chase while Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden - who was carrying a penalty - made good late headway to take third.

Andre Fabre's Meandre had been sent off a well-backed favourite to improve on his trainer's impressive record in the race but failed to pick up in the final quarter of a mile.

There was, however, more encouragement to be taken from the run of Fiorente who shaped promisingly on his seasonal reappearance albeit without providing Sir Michael Stoute with his first winner at Newmarket for well over a year.

Charlton said of the winner: "James said he got tired going up the hill but it was a very pleasing win as he had only run on that ground once before.

"One hopes that a horse as good-looking as him will improve from three to four, and it looks as if he has unless there was an excuse with the others.

"That was a good performance and we'll be looking at Group One races such as the Coronation Cup."