Soviet Song hits winning note again in Sussex
Owned by the 15,000-plus members of the Elite Racing Club, James Fanshawe’s battling filly gave them all another memorable victory as she bravely held the challenge of Nayyir inside the final few yards.
But it wasn’t just the large band of successful owners, celebrating the 200th success in Elite’s 12-year history, who were cheering as Soviet Song was returned a well-supported 3-1 chance.
With pacesetter Passing Glance folding quickly after having to exert too much energy in order to reach the lead in the early stages, favourite Refuse To Bend suddenly found himself in front three furlongs out with Haafhd in close attendance.
However, the race changed complexion again when ex-Italian contender Le Vie Dei Colori took up the lead, only for Soviet Song to quickly draw alongside and stake her claim for the £135,000 first prize.
Quickly asserting, Soviet Song struck for home just before the furlong pole under Johnny Murtagh.
Nayyir came out of the pack to throw down a challenge to the winner inside the final 100 yards, but Murtagh’s mount had more to give and held on by a neck from the 12-1 chance.
Le Vie Dei Colori (12-1) ran a blinder on his debut for Luca Cumani to hold on for third, a further two lengths adrift.
But it was a different matter for supporters of Haafhd, who trailed home ninth, and Refuse To Bend, who was all but pulled up in the straight and finished stone last of the 11 runners.
Haafhd probably ran his race before the stalls had even opened, as he got himself in a stew in the hot weather when having to be replated before the start.
But Refuse To Bend’s run was harder to explain, with Frankie Dettori inclined to blame the unusual way in which he had suddenly been left in front sooner than expected.
Soviet Song, the only filly in the race, became the first of her sex to take this prestigious prize since Sayyedati nine years ago.
But her hard-as-nails nature means Fanshawe is not about to ease off on his charge, despite this having been her sixth race of the campaign.
“She is taking her races so well that there’s no point in stopping now,” he said.
“I purposely did not enter her this morning for the Prix Jacques Le Marois (at Deauville on August 14) as it is only 19 days after this and I didn’t want to be tempted if she ran well here.
“Instead we will probably aim for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown (newly-promoted to Group One status and the highlight of the supporting card on Irish Champion Stakes day, September 11) before going to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (September 25).
“The good news is that Elite are thinking of keeping her in training next year, so we have got another season to think about.
“We didn’t think about the Breeders’ Cup because it was going to cost $180,000 to enter her, but I suppose we could think about it next season.”
A talented juvenile who had a disappointing three-year-old campaign, Fanshawe attributes part of the reason for the filly’s renaissance to the relationship she has developed with work rider Mark Denaro.
“Mark is a really important guide to her well-being and he was confident that she had taken her Newmarket race well,” he said.
“He deserves a plug because he has been very important in her improvement.
“She is a different filly this season. Last year I was thinking 10 furlongs was her trip, but this year she is showing so much speed that she is definitely a miler and I wouldn’t even mind dropping her back to seven.”
Murtagh hailed Soviet Song as “the Queen of the milers”.
“She has always been a very special filly, but now she is racing against the best around and she has proved herself to be the very best,” he said.
