Dettori edges further ahead

Frankie Dettori took advantage of the absence of Kieren Fallon to extend his lead in the jockeys’ championship to 14 with a winner at Leicester today.

With his title rival missing six rides after suffering a bone-crunching fall at the track 24 hours earlier, Dettori was left with a clear run.

He got on the scoreboard as Mansfield Park made the most of a drop in class to land the ladbrokes.com Wreake Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained three-year-old was last seen finishing third in a Listed race at Ascot, and she hardly had to come out of second gear this time to win.

After taking up the running in the early stages, the Italian asked the 4-9 favourite to quicken entering the final two furlongs and she showed a smart turn of foot to score by an eased-down five lengths from Coqueteria.

“She is a nice big filly who has been a little bit weak,” said Bin Suroor.

“Frankie gave her a good ride and we will see how she comes back, but she may have another race.”

Dettori appeared to have an excellent chance of completing a double when Silent Jo had only two rivals to face in the ladbrokes.com Conditions Stakes.

But the youngster failed to quicken up when required and finished last of the trio behind the Pat Chamings-trained Foxhaven – the 6-1 outsider of the field.

Given a canny ride by Martin Dwyer, the colt quickened up well against the stands rail to beat Red Peony by one and a half lengths.

“We really deserved that because we have had so many seconds recently it’s been infuriating,” said Chamings.

“We were second in the Cumberland Lodge, second in the Cambridgeshire and this colt was second in a nice race at Goodwood.”

Peter Chapple-Hyam’s stable reached the pre-season target of 30 winners for the campaign when River Alhaarth rallied to take the second division of the EBF ladbrokes.com Soar Maiden Stakes.

The 6-1 chance was headed over a furlong out by Registrar, but rallied gamely to regain the advantage near the post and score by three-quarters of a length.

“I think that is 30 for the year, including our winners abroad, and as five of those have been Group winners it’s not been a bad season,” said Chapple-Hyam’s wife Jane.

“Peter is at the sales looking for a bargain, but he’ll be pleased. This is a nice colt who has come on a lot for his first run at Warwick and he probably appreciated the ease in the ground too.

“He is owned by the chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ronald Arculli, who had a horse with Peter when we were out there called Early Grey, who won races.

“Mr Arculli is in Beijing today, but hopefully he has been able to listen in.”

Dwyer failed to capitalise on the absence of Fallon when just failing to land the opening race on Flag Lieutenant.

The substitute jockey had to settle for second best on the 12-1 shot behind the John Gosden-trained Eqdaam (11-1), who made virtually all the running in the EBF ladbrokes.com Reference Point Maiden Stakes to score by half a length.

Tragedian stayed on late to grab third, while Dettori never landed a blow on the 4-5 favourite Jabraan.

Gosden’s travelling head lad Alan Tate said: “It has taken a while for the penny to drop with Eqdaam, but he was brave there and was staying on well at the finish.”

Luis Melendez made all to please favourite-backers in the first division of the EBF ladbrokes.com Soar Maiden Stakes.

Ryan Moore kept the 5-2 winner up to his work throughout the final two furlongs and he responded well to hold the challenge of Barbary Coast close home.

“He’ll improve next season and should make into a nice stayer,” said trainer Paul Cole’s representative Liam Kelly.

“He is still very green, even though that was his third race. I don’t think that was the best maiden ever and hopefully the handicapper won’t go over the top.”

Armentieres gained her second career success when flying late to grab victory in the ladbrokes.com Selling Handicap.

The John Spearing-trained 13-2 second favourite was virtually last three furlongs from home, but stayed on strongly on the wide outside to beat Disco Diva by half a length.

The winner was bought in by connections for 4,000 guineas at the post-race auction.