QUEEN MOTHER
Earth gives Dettori his 20th Classic
FRANKIE DETTORI was out of this world on Mother Earth, who gave the Italian a 20th Classic triumph in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Aidan O’Brien’s Santa Barbara was the talking horse of the Rowley Mile fillies’ test – the Curragh maiden winner went off the 5-2 joint-favourite under Ryan Moore.
But it was stablemate Mother Earth, a 10-1 chance, who swept to a one-length success under Dettori to give the Ballydoyle trainer a 1,000 Guineas hat-trick and a fifth win from the past six runnings.
The Jane Chapple-Hyamsaddled Saffron Beach took second, with Fev Rover a neck back in third.
A “super excited” Dettori, who turned 50 in December – he is the oldest jockey to win the race since Charlie Smirke in 1957 – hollered: “I’m getting the knack of this now. It took me 30 years to realise what to do!
“I didn’t have the pressure to ride the favourite – she was the second string – and I had a very willing partner who I knew would give me everything.
Aidan gave me a lot of confidence this morning. He said to forget about Santa Barbara and just ride my own race.
“He told me to get cover and I did, I kicked at the top of the hill, and I won – it’s as simple as that!”
Dettori’s idol Lester Piggott was 56 when gaining a record 30th British Classic aboard Rodrigo De Triano in the 2,000 Guineas 29 years ago.
“It’s the 20th Classic for me at 50 years old. I got lucky and
I’m extremely happy,” he laughed. “I’m only 10 behind Lester now so I’ve got plenty of time!”
While Mother Earth is set to remain at a mile for the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh in 20 days, Santa Barbara, who missed out on third place by a nose, will now head to the Cazoo Oaks, for which she is the 4-1 favourite, at Epsom on June 4.
“She’ll be fine,” said O’Brien. “She’s classy, she would have learned a lot today.”