Sweet success for Roly Poly
AIDAN O’BRIEN won his first Prix Rothschild at Deauville yesterday as Roly Poly claimed a second straight Group One.
Ryan Moore always had the daughter of War Front in a prominent position just off the pace set by Usherette, with last year’s winner and favourite Qemah held up in the rear by Cristian Demuro.
As Usherette started to wilt towards the stands’ rail Roly Poly took up the running with Qemah making her challenge right on the inside.
Jean-Claude Rouget’s filly couldn’t reel in the leaders, though, finishing out of the frame as Roly Poly hung on for a narrow success over Via Ravenna and Siyoushake.
It was the second Group One win in as many races for Roly Poly after her success in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival. Later on the card Richard Fahey’s Darkanna finished second in the Group Three Prix de Cabourg. The race was won by the Freddie Headtrained Tantheem, who powered clear for an easy victory.
Darkanna was seventh behind Heartache in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot before finishing seventh in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes last time, but she enjoyed her trip to Deauville by running on for second behind a very impressive winner.
Tantheem only won her maiden on the Deauville Polytrack last time, but she relished the return to turf with a ready success under Mickael Barzalona.
Over the sticks at Uttoxeter, the Skeltons were celebrating a treble.
Thetrainer-jockeycombination of Dan and Harry kicked off the meeting with success in the first via 8-13 favourite Listen To The Man.
But punters who had taken those short odds suffered a heart-stopping moment when the seven-year-old made a complete mess of the third flight from home.
But he recovered so well that he was able to forge clear of market rival Rebel Yeats (6-4) to record an 11-length success.
Listen To The Man won a Listed bumper last year and is now four from eight over hurdles.
Win number two came in the novice chase when Work In Progress (6-5) beat 11-10 favourite Solatenif, making all the running.
The triple was secured in the final race on the card when Shrubland, having his first run for the Skeltons since being transferred from Alexandra Dunn’s yard, was too good for Beau Bay and Knight Commander in the final race, the handicap hurdle.
Knight Commander, the 15-8 favourite, was anchored by his welter burden of 12st 11lb in his bid to make it three wins in the last eight days — a major mistake at the last did not help either.