Manuel Franco rides Leading Change during the race.
Doha, Qatar: Leading Change, the unbeaten three-year-old colt, took another major step forward by winning the Gr.1 Travers Stakes over 2000m on dirt at Saratoga yesterday.
Trained by Brad H Cox, ridden by Manuel Franco, and owned by Wathnan Racing, Leading Change maintained his perfect record with a very determined performance at the highest level.
The colt came into the race unbeaten after only two career starts.
Leading Change broke sharply and went straight to the front in the early stages before allowing Napoleon Solo to take over after around two furlongs. Manuel Franco then settled the colt in a prominent position, travelling close to the leader as the field made its way down the back straight. Around three furlongs from home, Leading Change was pushed along and briefly looked outpaced as Napoleon Solo continued to travel strongly in front. However, the colt responded well to his jockey and began to make progress again approaching the final two furlongs.
Napoleon Solo still held the advantage entering the final furlong, but Leading Change continued to close under pressure. He hung slightly to his left inside the final 110 yards, but kept finding more and gradually reduced the gap.
In the final strides, Leading Change got the better of Napoleon Solo to regain the lead and score by half a length. Napoleon Solo finished second, with Golden Tempo staying on to take third
