Lead Artist wins Newbury thriller for Murphy

Lead Artist edged out Dancing Gemini in a pulsating Lockinge Stakes at Newbury to give jockey Oisin Murphy his first victory in the race.

The winner, trained by John and Thady Gosden, was backed down from morning odds of 18-1 to finish at 17-2.

Fallen Angel led the field until two furlongs to go before Lead Artist got the better of a sustained battle with 2-1 favourite Dancing Gemini.

Murphy, riding his first top-level Group One winner for owners Juddmonte, edged ahead by a neck in the final strides.

“He has an amazing temperament. The lads were really confident and the market told. He was a joy to ride,” said Murphy.

Last year’s Irish 2000 Guineas winner Rosallion was third, with 2024 Newmarket Guineas victor Notable Speech fourth.

Kieran Shoemark rode Lead Artist on all eight of his previous starts, but he lost his role as number one rider for the Gosdens after his Guineas defeat on the Juddmonte-owned Field Of Gold a fortnight ago.

On his Lockinge winner, John Gosden said: “He was given a peach of the ride. I thought we’d be in the three but I didn’t necessararily think we’d win it.”