POLLY IS PERFECT
PRETTY POLLYANNA was too strong for Signora Cabello after a terrific duel for the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville yesterday.
The two British-trained fillies dominated the finish and pulled well clear of their rivals in the closing stages, with Pretty Pollyanna just coming out on top for trainer Michael Bell and jockey Silvestre de Sousa.
Pretty Pollyanna had won the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and showed that form was no fluke as she took the first Group One of the season for two-yearolds in France.
Signora Cabello, the mount of Frankie Dettori, went down fighting after briefly looking as though she might succeed.
However, Pretty Pollyanna found more and edged ahead close home for a three-quarters-of-a-length victory.
Karl Burke’s True Mason gave British runners a clean sweep, with Aidan O’Brien’s Land Force fourth.
De Sousa said: “She travelled well, like she did last time. Mr Bell said to keep it simple.
“She’s an improving filly and did it the hard way. I think she does get that trip, and going up to a mile shouldn’t bother her.” Betfair left Pretty Pollyanna unchanged at
12-1 for next year’s Qipco
1,000 Guineas, while BetVictor were more impressed – trimming her to 8-1 from 10s.
Bell said: “I’m delighted with her, and I was particularly encouraged by the last furlong because she stayed on really well to the line.
“It looks as though she is going to get further. Obviously, we would be thinking about making her into a Guineas filly and I think that last furlong, and the last half a furlong in particular, looks as though she has every chance of getting a bit further.”
The Newmarket trainer will discuss the next step for the filly with owners Bill and Tim Gredley.
Urban Fox was denied a second Group One success when collared close home by Nonza in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet.
Winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, the William Haggastrained four-year-old was just run out of it in the final strides.
She hit the front in the straight under James Doyle but Nonza, trained by Henri-Francois Devin, arrived late to snatch victory in the hands of Alexis Badel.