Quiff roars into Leger picture
Quiff romped home in the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks today to put herself firmly in the picture for the St Leger.
The Group One contest lost much of its sparkle with the defection of dual Oaks winner Ouija Board and Summitville due to the ground, which was officially described as soft.
But it was nevertheless a breathtaking performance from Quiff, who was always in touch under Kieren Fallon as Punctilious and Danelissima disputed the early lead.
Fallon was in no mood to take prisoners and he sent Sir Michael Stoute’s filly into the lead with over three furlongs left and the daughter of Sadler’s Wells soon had her seven rivals in trouble.
Hazarista flattered briefly but she could not peg back Quiff, who stretched clear in the style of a high-class performer to beat the staying-on Pongee by 11 lengths.
Hazarista finished very tired, a length and a half back in third.
Bookmakers failed to agree on the merit of the performance. Ladbrokes were clearly impressed and now make Quiff their 5-2 favourite for the betfair.com-sponsored Classic at Doncaster next month, while Paddy Power are longest at 9-2.
There was plenty of stable confidence behind Quiff (7-2) following the withdrawal of Ouija Board and the overnight rain, which made the going very testing.
“We thought she’d win but we didn’t think she’d win that far,” was Stoute’s post-race comment.
He added: “She’s a very progressive filly. She ran well in the Ribblesdale (third) on firm ground that wasn’t really ideal for her. This ground suited her.
“She’s in the St Leger and I’d certainly be tempted to go that route.”
Fallon, who won the 1000 Guineas on Quiff’s dam Wince, said: “She needed the rain and got it. She worked last week and she was very impressive.
“She was idling when she hit the front – she hasn’t had much racing.
“The ground was desperate out there and she went through it well.
“I’ve been very lucky in this race over the years. I won it on good fillies like Islington and Catchascatchcan, but this is a real good filly as well.
“I rode her dam, she’s from a great family. She’s getting better all the time.”
When asked if he thought Quiff was a St Leger filly, the champion jockey said: “This filly lengthens rather than quickens.
“I’m not always keen on taking on the colts, but on what she has done today it will take a good colt to beat her.”
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “We had three wishes and they all came true – the rain, Ouija Board not running and this result. Everything came right today.
“We’ve always liked her and we’ll probably have to look at the Leger and the Prix Vermeille – it will depend on the ground.”
Clive Brittain’s horses should never be discounted in the big races and so it proved when the veteran handler saddled 16-1 shot Tony James to take the Group Two Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.
Seb Sanders settled Tony James just off the pace as Abraxas Antelope and Royal Island vied for the early lead.
Abraxas Antelope went on at halfway in the six-furlong dash but Sanders had the move covered and he sent Tony James up to challenge. Brittain’s juvenile soon got on top and ran on well to score by one and a quarter lengths from the staying-on Andronikos. Abraxas Antelope was half a length back in third.
Brittain, as is often the case, has ambitious plans for the winner.
He said: “He’ll have different ground in the Kentucky Derby. I trained some of the family and they went on soft ground, so we knew there was a good chance he’d go on it.
“Six furlongs would be on the short side for him on fast ground but on this ground we had no fears.
“I’ve always rated this horse and his next run will probably be in France in the Criterium to get a flight into him, and then he’ll be prepared for the Kentucky Derby.
“It has been (owner) Tony Richards’ dream to win the Kentucky Derby after he was second with Bold Arrangement (in 1986).”
Brittain has no plans to retire and added: “I want the Kentucky Derby and the English Derby 10 times, and then I’ll get my rocking chair.”
Sanders was partnering the horse for the first time and he said: “He’s a huge horse and a bit weak, so he’ll improve and will make a better three-year-old.”
He was given a one-day suspension (August 29) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
Tony James is 66-1 with Cashmans and 50-1 with Paddy Power for the Kentucky Derby, while William Hill go 50-1 the son of Xaar for the 2000 Guineas.
Paul Cole, trainer of Andronikos, said: “I think he needs another furlong. Ideally I would have liked to have got another race into him and considering Kieren said he hated the ground, he’s run a great race.”
Howard Johnson, responsible for Abraxas Antelope, added: “I thought he wanted it like this, so I’m disappointed he was only third.
“He’s a good horse, but he seemed to labour a bit in the last 100 yards. Maybe it was because he did too much of the donkey work.”
Dance Night (7-1) led over a furlong out under Graham Gibbons to take the Listed Costcutter Roses Stakes by a length and a half from Moscow Music.
The jockey said: “He’s still an improving sort and definitely capable of winning a Group race.”
Winning trainer Bryan McMahon was represented by his son Edward, who said: “The ground was decisive – we’ve been waiting for it for a while. On this ground he’s capable of winning a Group Three.”
Dunaskin made all to land a good prize at Haydock Park earlier this month and Don Eddy’s progressive gelding repeated the feat in the Motability Supported By Royal & SunAlliance Rated Stakes.
Kevin Darley set a good pace on Dunaskin, considering conditions were quite testing, and the 8-1 chance was always travelling well within himself before drawing readily clear to take the £20,000 contest by an impressive seven lengths from Zero Tolerance.
“It was just the same as last time – maybe even better,” commented Eddy. “He loves being in front and he’s just the same at home. He has two gears - hand brake on and hand brake off.”
Eddy, who has eight horses in his Newcastle yard, could now aim Dunaskin at some of the big handicaps in the autumn.
