Dubai Winning jockey William Buick was full of praise for Toormoore who he described as a ‘high quality’ horse in the wake of his battling victory in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown Park on Friday.

The Godolphin trainee took his Group race record to six wins and in the process earned a big shout for next month’s Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, a 1600 metre contest which is the second race in the mile division of the British Champions Series.

Trained by Richard Hannon for, Toormore finished three quarters of a length behind stable companion Night Of Thunder in the race twelve months ago and deservedly gets a second shot a winning a race which acts as a springboard for horses who go on to contest the prestigious Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

One of three runners owned by Team Godolphin in Sandown showpiece, the five-year-old showed plenty of ability and courage to stave off Dutch Connection, the mount of Jim Crowley.

Belardo, who is trained by Roger Varian for Godolphin, finished strongly after being held up in last place for most of the trip but was never able to pose a serious challenge under James Doyle.

Buick said of Toormore: “He’s such a lovely horse and a real joy to ride.

“They went very quick, but this horse has won like that before and he’s won being in front.

“It suited him to have something to aim at. He kind of looked like he was beaten a furlong and a half out, but he really battled back.

“He’s a very high quality horse. He came close to winning the Lockinge last year and I presume that’s the aim again this year,” the Godolphin rider added.

“It’s a very pleasing stepping-stone for him and he deserves to win a Group One.”

Hannon was delighted with the performance and said: “We took him to Manton and he worked very well but we’ve come here giving away a 3lb penalty and he’s done it very well.

“He’s always been a class horse and he was champion two-year-old and a Group One winner.

“He’s five years of age now and he had a long year last year and that will put him spot on for Newbury where the Lockinge is the next step. I think we’ll stick to a mile,” he continued.

“We’ll go the Lockinge and work it out from there and look at the Queen Anne and the Sussex Stakes after that.

“I thought they might be going too quick and I thought Belardo was giving us a lot of leeway and it was either a case of him finding us hard to peg back or get him in three strides.

“The second horse travelled up well, but showed the courage of a good horse.”

Toormore was cut to 7-1 (from 10) by most British oddsmakers for the Lockinge, a race that has been a particular favourite with Godolphin-owned runners with six wins since Cape Cross in 1998.

Fly to the Stars (1999), Aljabr (2000), Creachadoir (2008), Farhh (2013) and Night of Thunder (2015) are the other horses to carry Godolphin’s colours to victory in the race.