The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Pretty Crystal shines brightest
PRETTY Crystal held off the late surge of Dance Sequence in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.
Viewed as the first 1000 Guineas trial of the spring, Charlie Appleby’s previously unbeaten Dance Sequence was 10-11 favourite to enhance her Classic claims.
William Buick was briefly short of room on the Godolphin filly and it was just then that Oisin Orr on Pretty Crystal made his decision to set off in pursuit of Brian Meehan’s Kathmandu, who had made a bold bid for home.
As Kathmandu’s stride began to shorten, it was Richard Fahey’s Pretty Crystal who looked the likely winner but Dance Sequence, once in the clear, began to make ground.
The favourite began to roll around upon meeting the rising ground, though, making life difficult for Buick, and that enabled Pretty Crystal (18-1) to come out on top by a neck.
Fahey said: “I’m just delighted because she had some tough tasks last year and it’s nice to get one. She’s been placed a few times, but I kept saying she was a black-type filly and it’s the first time she’s won one so it’s grand.
“It was a real career-best, the favourite looked a good filly and she battled away. It was a good, hardy, tough performance and you would have to be really pleased with her.
“She had to step up and she has done, she stuck her head down and kept going and we’re delighted. We were expecting a decent run and I thought we definitely had an eachway chance.
“We haven’t put her in the 1000 Guineas and when she stepped into Pattern company last year she was found wanting a little bit. We could supplement her, but we will speak to the team and work our way from there.
“It’s been a lucky race for us and I think it’s something like the third time we have won it now. It’s quite a prestigious race and to get blacktype in a race like that is great. We are little bit shocked that we beat the Godolphin filly.”
Orr said: “I was delighted and things went a lot smoother today as a few times I’ve been unlucky on her. I got a lovely run and she is tough, she hit the line strong and was great. She had good form as a two-year-old, but I think she’s a lot stronger and she’ll be right up there with the good fillies we have and it’s good to get her head in front.”
Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager for owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: “I couldn’t understand how she was such a big price – I thought we would be single figures.
“I don’t think she’s in the Guineas, but we might have to put her in! We have got to find out what we have to do now, but why not (have a go).”
Appleby said of Dance Sequence “Without winning, we are delighted with the run and that is very much what the trials are there for.”