Lead Artist emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish at the Newbury Lockinge Stakes, narrowly defeating Dancing Gemini by a neck. This triumph marked a significant milestone for jockey Oisin Murphy, who secured his first win in this prestigious race. The horse, trained by John and Thady Gosden, saw its odds improve from 18-1 in the morning to 17-2 at the finish.

Fallen Angel initially led the pack but was overtaken by Lead Artist in the final two furlongs. The race culminated in a thrilling duel between Lead Artist and the 2-1 favorite Dancing Gemini, with Murphy skillfully guiding his horse to victory in the closing strides.

"He has an amazing temperament. The lads were really confident, and the market told. He was a joy to ride," Murphy commented post-race.

Rosallion, last year's Irish 2000 Guineas winner, finished third, while Notable Speech, the 2024 Newmarket Guineas victor, came in fourth. The four contenders are now poised for a potential rematch in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

Kieran Shoemark, who had ridden Lead Artist in all eight of his previous starts, was replaced as the primary rider for the Gosdens following a defeat in the Guineas on the Juddmonte-owned Field Of Gold two weeks prior.

John Gosden praised the ride, saying, "He was given a peach of a ride. I thought we'd be in the three, but I didn't necessarily think we'd win it."

Dancing Gemini's trainer, Roger Teal, acknowledged the horse's strong performance on faster ground than it had previously encountered.

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