Astronomer © Benoit Photo

Astronomer, longest shot in the field at 30-1 despite the presence in the saddle of European champion jockey Ryan Moore, rallied along the rail in the stretch to win the $150,000 Qatar Golden Mile Friday, the first of four stakes on the undercard of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

Well-placed in the early stages of the one-mile contest over the infield grass event. Astronomer was guided to the inside by Moore for the stretch run and responded to urging to outfinish Optimising and win by a half-length in 1:35.37 for the mile.

Runner-up Optimising, piloted by John Velazquez, nosed out Degree of Risk, with Boise fourth in the field of nine two-year-olds. Ready to Purform, the 6-5 favorite, was seventh.

Astronomer, a son of Air Force Blue owned by Bamford and Tabor and trained by Simon Callaghan, returned $62.60, $23.20 and $10.60 after scoring his second win in four starts. Optimising paid $8.60 and $5.20, while Degree of Risk returned 3.20 to show.

RYAN MOORE (Astronomer, winner) – “We had a good trip; very comfortable all the way. He sat in behind horses and he handled that well. When it came time he was there for me.”

SIMON CALLAGHAN (Astronomer, winner) “Del Mar didn’t work out well for him this summer (0-for-2) but he had a breakthrough race winning at Golden Gate Fields and he is improving. He’s out of a mare that I trained for owners Michael (Tabor) and Alice (Bamford), which is very nice. And it was an excellent ride from Ryan Moore.”

FRACTIONS: :22.53 :46.89 1:11.32 1:23.48 1:35.37

The victory was rider Moore’s third at Del Mar.

Trainer Callaghan was winning his 15 stakes at Del Mar.

The winning owners are Alice Bamford or Michael Tabor of Lexingon, KY.