Sanders hit by Confidential ban
The Newmarket maestro’s status as a handicap expert is legendary, with victories for the likes of the heavily-backed Pasternak in the 1997 Cambridgeshire part of punting folklore.
The Singspiel filly, runner-up to Speciosa in the Stan James 1000 Guineas but disappointing when favourite for the Irish equivalent last time out, enjoyed a dream run under Sanders in the extended 10-furlong event.
Sanders dropped her in early on as Keladora, pacemaker for the favourite Germance, set a testing early gallop, with Daltaya also taking a prominent position.
Turning for home the rider had to start making an effort as Queen Cleopatra and Germance began to assert.
Confidential Lady momentarily looked in a spot of trouble around two furlongs out, but Sanders switched to the outside and she found an extra gear to ease away from the field and score by a length and a half.
Kieren Fallon seemed set to snatch second aboard the Aidan O’Brien-trained Queen Cleopatra but Germance just pipped her for the runner-up spot.
However, the stewards found Sanders to have used his whip with excessive force, meaning he will miss Royal Ascot as French rules state the suspension comes into effect eight days after it is imposed.
His agent Keith Bradley said the rider had no plans to appeal.
Prescott, meanwhile, was delighted to open his account at this level and full of praise for his Cheveley Park Stud-owned inmate.
“It’s a relief after 37 years of trying!” he quipped.
“I have had four runners in Classics and three have placed and this one has won. It’s great.
“I think it’s a marvellous day for Cheveley Park Stud, who are wonderful supporters of racing in England and support us as well.
“We were lucky with the draw, we were lucky knowing that there would be a strong pace and we were very lucky that the filly was tough enough to take a race like this only two weeks after a slightly disappointing run at the Curragh,” he told At The Races.
“I always felt she would get a mile and a quarter and I have always doubted she would get a mile and a half.”
Prescott is unsure of future plans for the filly, adding: “She deserves a bit of a breather now.”
But for Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of the runner-up, it meant more Classic frustration as the powerful handler from Pau has yet to taste victory despite many big-race wins and saw his previously unbeaten filly – she had won the ideal prep race the Group One Prix St Alary at Longchamp last time out – as his most serious candidate yet.
“What can I say? It was not to be again. It will be one day and then the champagne will flow freely,” he said.
