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JOHN DANCE was living up to his name when bopping in the winners’ enclosure after Laurens held September in a desperately tight finish to the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.
“That was something,” said Dance wiping his brow. “I work in investment. I’m a bit of a gambler.
“You have to take a gamble in racing. It all started when our company sponsored races and then I decided with my wife I wanted to be on the other side of the fence.
“I didn’t think we would get where we are so quickly.”
Light
Dance clearly has a smart and courageous filly on his hands.
“She is a very, very high-class filly,” said winning trainer Karl Burke. “We always knew that.
“For a big filly she’s very light of her feet, like a ballerina.
“She’s rather a galloper than a speed filly at this stage of her career. We will step her up in distance next year, the Prix de Diane (the French Oaks) is the obvious objective at this stage.”
This was a first Group One success for the winning rider PJ McDonald, a former jump jockey who partnered Hot Weld to victory in the 2007 Scottish Grand National.
Double
Victory for Laurens denied Aidan O’Brien a 24th Group One of the season when September was beaten by a nose.
The Ballydoyle maestro is hoping to better Bobby Frankel’s record of 25.
Limato, who does not enjoy getting his feet wet, rewarded his patient connections when taking the Godolphin Challenge Stakes at his leisure in the hands of Harry Bentley. The jockey followed up with a double for trainer Henry Candy on Chain Of Daisies in the Join Club Godolphin Pride Stakes.
Testing ground ruled Limato out of a second attempt of winning this month’s Prix de la Foret at Chantilly and earlier this year a thunderstorm scuppered his chances in Meydan.
“Good grou nd is essential for him,” said Candy. “It’s great to see him back to his old self.” Despite under performing over a mile, Candy now believes it will be his ideal trip.
“The Lockinge (finished fourth in 2016) is the race I would be looking at for him next year,” added. Candy. “He will not be running again this season.”
Altyn Orda showed no ill effects after unseating Andrea Atzeni on the way to post and galloping loose before taking the Oh So Sharp Stakes.
Surprise
Punters ignored the filly, who was sent off at 25-1, and latched on to I Can Fly, the 2-1 favourite who finished third, but her victory did not surprise Roger Varian.
“Her form was red hot,” said Varian. “The maiden she was second in has produced loads of winners and Aidan O’Brien’s filly, Bye Bye Baby, who beat us the last time, went on to win a Listed race.
“I think she will make up into a Guineas filly next year.” eracious, a CRACKSMAN is giving his trainer John Gosden the right signals as he attempts to top the bill in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot next Saturday.
The three-year-old was denied the opportunity of competing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe owing to his stable being represented by Enable, the impressive winner.
Gap
And the son of Frankel was unfortunate not to land the Irish Derby, pushed wide on the home bend, when runner-up to Capri.
“He’s had a nice holiday after the Irish Derby and another nice gap after his win at Chantilly,” said Gosden after watching the colt on the gallops at Newmarket yesterday.
“And he’s had another nice gap going into Ascot.”
Cracksman, second favourite for the Arc before Gosden decided to side-step the race, would have been a serious player in the contest, according to his astute trainer.
“You would have to say he would have been in the first three in the Arc,” said Gosden. “The ® way Enable was going before the Arc we thought it best to leave her alone in the race and bring Cracksman to Ascot – I’ll leave it at that!”
Cracksman is the 3-1 favourite to take the most valuable 10-furlong contest run in Europe, a prize which has so far eluded his Newmarket trainer.
“I’m very happy with him,” added Gosden.
“Frankie Dettori was pleased with his work on Wednesday. He drops in trip but that should not be a problem.
“I hope he doesn’t get a wide draw. It did us no favours with Jack Hobbs last year.”
Jack Hobbs, third in the last two runnings of the race, is also expected to run again.
Gosden is also hoping that Journey can add to her success in last year’s Qipco Fillies and Mares Stakes.
Happy
“She obviously loves Ascot, winning there last year and finishing second the previous year,” said Gosden, who runs Emaraaty, the second favourite behind Expert Eye, in today’s Dewhurst.
“It’s a big jump from maiden class to a Group One,” said Gosden. “He’s a colt I obviously like, hence the entry but I considered him a work in progress.”