Frankie weighs in with Newbury brace
Frankie Dettori delighted the sparse Friday afternoon crowd at Newbury with an 181/2-1 double for Godolphin, courtesy of victories for Sand Vixen and Najd.
The former was far from disgraced in Group company at Ascot last month, and is again likely to be tried in the upper echelons of racing after landing the Bathwick Tyres St Hugh’s Stakes.
Godolphin’s speedy Dubawi filly (7-2) whizzed across the winning line, matching strides with 2-1 favourite Shamandar, and came home by a nose following a photo-finish.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “I like the filly a lot. She has improved all of the time since her debut and has a good turn of foot.
“She looks a lot better in herself now than she did when she first ran, and is the best of our juvenile fillies.
“We’ll try and find a Group race for her next and she could be a filly we’ll take to the Cheveley Park later in the year.”
Dettori added: “She is speedy and honest, and I did think we had won as the photo-finish favours this side. She wouldn’t mind running in the Cheveley Park as she is petite and ready now.”
Godolphin had earlier sent out their 13th domestic winner in August when 100-30 favourite Najd made a successful debut in division two of the Don Deadman Memorial EBF Maiden Stakes.
Poltergeist scared the market leader’s supporters somewhat when challenging on the far side of the pack, but the Storm Cat colt had the stands rail to guide and held on by a head.
His trainer said: “He has been working nicely, and he has shown plenty of speed. He was 85-90% fit and will come on for the race. There is no plan but we will find another race over seven furlongs for him.”
Pounced jumped from the stalls in division one to open his account as the 4-5 favourite under Ryan Moore.
Marcus Tregoning’s yard can do little wrong after shaking off the respiratory bug which blighted the first half of the season. The Lambourn handler hit the target with two of his three runners.
Arwaah was the second of those to oblige. The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned 13-8 favourite looked out of the top draw when pulling four lengths clear in the Ramsay V Inland Revenue Commissioners Hl 1981 Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Tregoning said: “She is a nice filly, which is why she ran in a conditions race first time out. She is the most beautiful filly, and hopefully she can go on to better things. A Listed race will be the next step, and she may go abroad at some stage.”
Oasis Knight kept the good times coming in the Provide Security Handicap, with the 8-1 chance forging into the lead passing the stands under the in-form Richard Hughes.
Tregoning added: “That was exceptionally good ride. You never know how a horse will react to a first-time visor, but he was perfect.
“He is a half-brother to High Accolade, who won two Cumberland Lodges and was second in the St Leger for us.
“He stays well, like High Accolade, but we will be sticking to handicaps for the time being.”
Hughes went on to complete a 57-1 treble with a brace for father-in-law Richard Hannon aboard 5-4 favourite Malt Or Mash in the MC Seafood Claiming Stakes and 15-8 market leader Getcarter in the Christopher Smith Associates Handicap.
