Tajaaweed wins the Dee Stakes

Tajaaweed came with a powerful late run to snatch a thrilling victory for Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Hills in the Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes at Chester.

Henry Cecil's Unnefer looked to have seized the initiative just over a furlong from home, but the 5-1 scorer flew up the rail to get on top by a short head in the shadow of the post.

Achill Island had to settle for third, some five lengths away, while Godolphin's Alexandros was in the process of running a big race when badly interfered with on the home turn.

Hills told Channel 4 Racing: "We had an awful draw but I spoke to Sir Michael and he just said to ride him with confidence and keep him balanced. He was always going to pick up but I didn't really want to go down the inside. He did well, he did very well.

"He's a very big sort of horse and he's overcome a lot of obstacles and showed a nice turn of foot in the end. He's very tall and we thought a lot of him last year so he was thrown in at the deep end very quickly but he's wintered very well."

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, added: "He is a great big horse so it was nice to see him handle the track and see he has progressed from two to three.

"I like the way he knuckled down well as I thought the other horse had slipped it.

"A decision on the Derby will be left to Sheikh Hamdan, but we don't have many good three-year-old colts and I am sure if Sir Michael is happy with him then he will run.

"It would be silly not to consider the race and I would be surprised if he didn't stay - but I don't know whether he is good enough to win."

Of Unnefer, Cecil said: "He didn't quite get it in the last half-furlong. He did everything right but the other horse outstayed him. He wants soft ground so we will pick and choose his races from here."