‘Oldies’ Manning and Dettori roll back years to clinch Guineas glory
Kevin Manning and Frankie Dettoristoletheshowonguineas weekend at Newmarket, as they struck on Poetic Flare and Mother Earth respectively in the first two Classics of the 2021 season.
Poetic Flare was a brave winner of the Qipco 2000 Guineas on Saturday for the enduring partnership of two veterans in trainer Jim Bolger (79) and jockey Manning (54).
The Coolcullen handler and his son-in-law have been around more than 130 years between them, and have joined forces for almost the last 40.
Poetic Flare, son of their Guineas and Royal Ascot winner Dawn Approach, did his connections and pedigree proud as he became a Classic hero in his own right.
Racing unlike Godolphin's Dawn Approach in the colours of Bolger's wife Jackie, Poetic Flare just edged out the all blue of Master Of The Seas by a short head as the latter's trainer Charlie Appleby had to settle for minor honours in a race he has yet to win.
In the tightest of finishes, 16-1 shot Poetic Flare had his head downatthetellingmomenton the line - with Lucky Vega just a neck further back in third for Jessica Harrington.
Manning reported the race had not gone as he had anticipated, initially.
"He's usually a very switched-off horse who takes everything in his stride, but he left the gates very quick and on the wrong note - and it just took a furlong and a half or two furlongs to reorganise and get into a rhythm,” said Manning.
"He's very smart and has done it very well. He travelled well and picked up well.
"It's great to get to the other side of it (line, in front)."
Yesterday it was Dettori's turn to show he is as good as ever when taking his Classic tally to 20 with victory on Aidan O'brien's second string Mother Earth in the 1000 Guineas.
There was no hiding the everpopular Italian's delight as he steered the 10-1 winner home from Saffron Beach and Fev Rover, with the Ballydoyle stable's number one hope, Santa Barbara, fourth.
Dettori, whose shrieks of delight continued from the track to the winner's enclosure and into the weighing room, said: "I'm super excited.
"It's a 20th Classic for me at 50 years old. I'm only 10 behind Lester (Piggott) - I've got plenty of time! Lester was 56 (when winning his 30th Classic), so I've got six years left, and Kevin (Manning, 54) won yesterday (2000 Guineas) - come on the oldies!
"It's great to do it at Newmarket. I'm extremely happy."
Meanwhile, Medina Spirit gave Bob Baffert a recordbreaking seventh Kentucky Derby victory on Saturday with a gutsy front-running performance under John Velazquez.
On a colt that cost just $1,000 as a yearling in 2019 and $35,000 to his current connections last year, Velazquez was masterful from the front - just as he was in the Covid-delayed renewal in September aboard the Baffert-trained Authentic.
With a crowd of 51,838 in attendance at Churchill Downs, Velazquez judged everything to perfection and his mount answered every call to hold off Mandaloun. Hot Rod Charlie was third and Essential Quality fourth.