Dubawi powers to National glory and Derby favouritism
The Group One contest has often proved a pointer to the following season’s Classics and in recent years has been won by such high-class performers as Desert King, King Of Kings, Sinndar, Hawk Wing and Refuse To Bend.
And judged on his display in yesterday’s renewal, Dubawi could carry on the trend.
Frankie Dettori was always oozing confidence on the unbeaten Godolphin colt as he tracked Russian Blue. But the Italian was not happy with the pace and sent the 8-13 favourite to the front with a couple of furlongs to run.
Dubawi jinked to his right after hitting the front but was soon back on an even keel and had three lengths to spare over the staying-on Berenson at the line.
Ladbrokes reacted by promoting Dubawi to 10-1 favouritism for the Vodafone Derby, while making him a 14-1 chance for the 2000 Guineas. Cashmans make him 14/1 for the Derby.
Godolphin racing manager said Simon Crisford: “That was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. A great moment for Godolphin, a son of Dubai Millennium winning his first Group One. It’s magical. Dubai Millennium’s brilliance lives on.
“Dubawi is a very good horse - a top-notch horse - who has probably done enough for the year.”
Dettori had not been worried about Dubawi’s antics when he took the lead.
He said: “He was just being a bit cheeky with me. He likes to have company, he likes to have a fight.”
“He has improved tremendously since Newmarket and he won like a really good horse.
“I like his attitude as well. He’s very straightforward, he’s tough and he likes a scrap - all the qualities of a good horse.”
Monturani meanwhile caused an upset of sorts to lead home a British one-two in the Group Two Irish National Stud Blandford Stakes.
Geoff Wragg’s mare (12-1) held on gamely by half a length from compatriot Kinnaird after leading with well over two furlongs to run.
Vodafone Oaks second All Too Beautiful came from a long way back to finish a short-head back in third.
Explaining the tactics, Wragg said: “I told Ted (Durcan) to keep her up there because she hasn’t got a turn of foot. She just gallops and the second looked like getting to her, but she’s as game as a pebble.
“She may go for the Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp (October 2), although I would like to run her in a Group One in Italy.”
Michael Stoute’s Red Bloom, the 13-8 favourite, never gave her supporters much hope and finished fourth.
Chris Richardson, representing Red Bloom’s owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: “Kieren (Fallon) said she was not travelling as she can and she was not herself.”
Jamie Spencer gave Troubadour a fine font-running ride to take the Ben Dunne Memorial Solonaway Stakes. After holding on by half a length from the ex-French Miss Mambo in the one-mile Listed contest, trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We were a bit worried about the ground - at home he can’t walk on the soft - but it has dried out since yesterday.
“He looks as though he might get 10 furlongs and we might step him up to a Group Three but we might leave him until next year.”
O’Brien and Spencer were also on the mark with Ad Valorem in the St Bernard Blenheim Stakes.
A gamble on Albert Hall in the opening Tinnakill House European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes went astray when O’Brien’s 1-2 favourite (from 5-4) got going too late and failed by half a length to catch the pacemaking Night Prayers (25-1), who scored for local trainer John Hayden.
