Dubai Springs 16-1 Surprise
Dubai Surprise lived up to her name as she caught punters out when foiling a major plunge on French raider Nanabanana in the big race at Goodwood today.
Owned by former British Horseracing Board chairman Peter Savill, the Criquette Head-Maarek-trained Nanabanana was all the rage in the ring and was backed down from 10-1 into 9-2 before being touched off in the Group Three Citroen C5 Prestige Stakes.
The filly’s supporters had looked to be sitting pretty as she struck the front under Kevin Darley over two furlongs from the finish as joint-favourite Luas Line began to drop away.
However, Ryan Moore had not given up hope on Dubai Surprise and the David Loder-trained filly stayed on best in the tiring conditions to lead 75 yards out for a half-length triumph.
Red Peony, the other 3-1 market leader, ran on well enough to take third, having arguably had the worst of the ground on the stands rail.
The name of the winning owner, Dubai-based Dr Ali Ridha, may not be that familiar to British punters, but as physician for members of the Maktoum family it certainly is to Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed.
Despite the winner’s starting price of 16-1, Loder’s assistant trainer Rick Bowman insisted the victory was not a complete shock.
“David’s not a man to throw them into the deep end and she has been working very well,” he said.
“Last time out it was either the Sweet Solera or a maiden at Redcar for her and because Dr Ridha already had his other horse in the Newmarket race, we decided to go to Redcar.
“In fact, she ran quite green when she won there, so we probably made the right decision. But she is a nice filly and the objective will most likely be the Fillies’ Mile.
“Now she is proven on the ground we would have to consider the Marcel Boussac at Longchamp as well.
“We were worried about the going, but it was the same for them all and she is a big, strong filly, so we were hopeful.
“That was Ryan’s first ride for us and what a great way to start. We’ve always thought a lot of her – she works very well at home.”
Dubai Surprise is available at 33-1 for the 1000 Guineas with William Hill and Paddy Power.
Moore, moving on to 95 winners for the season, added: “It’s the best way to start for a new stable!
“The ground has got a bit cut up under the stands rail and so I tried to keep to the middle with her. She is a very game filly who handled the ground well.”
Nanabanana, who ran a brave race given that she returned to the unsaddling area with a bad cut to a leg, will now step back down in trip for a Group race at Maisons-Laffitte over six and a half furlongs.
“We came here because it is quite an easy seven furlongs, but she didn’t quite get home,” said Savill. “She handled the ground well, as we knew she would, and I think the punters were just looking for some each-way value – which they got!”
John Dunlop has been struggling for winners in recent months, but the Arundel trainer likes nothing more than a victory or two at his local track.
Having scored at the meeting on Friday, he enjoyed a popular treble here thanks to wins for Growler, Flying Adored and Stoop To Conquer.
Growler put up an improved performance to take the Britannia Rescue Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
Richard Hughes was always going particularly well and though favourite Stargem held a fractional advantage with two of the six furlongs to travel, Growler was still full of running.
The race was soon over as he asserted entering the last and the son of Foxhound (5-1) had two and a half lengths to spare at the line, with Asbo a further length and three-quarters away in third.
Flying Adored (5-2) gave champion jockey Kieren Fallon a winner as she stayed on well to hold Dr Thong in the Motoring & Leisure Handicap.
Fallon admitted he was busy keeping tabs on championship rival Frankie Dettori, who was in action at Yarmouth.
“I’ve been watching and I’ve already seen him ride a double there, and I see that Sir Michael (Stoute, Fallon’s principal employer) has put him up on one in the last,” smiled Fallon.
“I might have to have a word with him about that!”
In fact he shouldn’t have anything to worry about as he is so far in front now that Ladbrokes have stopped betting on the title race.
Stoop To Conquer (11-4) was outpaced when Jasmick poached an advantage two furlongs out in the Picnic Handicap, but Johnny Murtagh’s mount rallied gamely to get back up for a neck verdict.
“It has been a bit of a struggle lately, as everybody knows,” said Dunlop. “But hopefully we are getting back on the right track now.”
Jasmick’s rider Lee Fletcher was suspended for one day (September 9) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
There was some confusion before the start of the race when bookmakers opened their betting without the Gary Moore-trained High Hope, who was being shown on the electronic screen opposite the stands as a non-runner.
But a quick trip to the parade ring confirmed that High Hope was ready to take his chance, and in fact the gelding proved a popular order once incorporated into the betting by the on-course layers and the totepool system, which also briefly bet without High Hope.
However, in the race itself the gelding never looked like landing a blow behind Dunlop’s winner.
Having scored on Growler, Hughes was in double form and completed his brace when New Order (9-2) took the Seafrance Fillies’ Stakes for the resurgent Barry Hills stable.
The filly stayed on well despite the sticky ground to hold the challenge of Sabrina Brown by one and three-quarter lengths, with favourite Enrapture well held in third.
Hughes paid tribute to the winning filly, who showed heart to hold off her challengers on just her third racecourse appearance.
“It is pretty windy out there and she did well to stick her neck out,” he said.
“She didn’t go down to the start very well on the ground and I was pretty worried, but fortunately she came back a lot better when she was going at a faster pace.”
