Compton bolts to group-race glory

Compton Bolter ended his long wait for Group success with victory in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial at Newbury.

In a performance which gave his owner Erik Penser and trainer Gerard Butler immense personal satisfaction, he arrived late on the scene under Darryll Holland to catch Into The Dark in the last couple of strides and prevail by a short head in the Group Three contest.

It was an especially popular success for a locally-based operation and Penser, who is a Newbury director, enthused: “This means so much to me because he’s won several Listed races and run in many Group contests without managing a win.

“He’s been all over the world, three times to France, to Dubai four times and once to the States and is such an amazing horse.”

While a trip to Newmarket could be on the cards for the 25-1 winner, Butler has not ruled out the possibility of the eight-year-old running over hurdles.

Last winter he was given an entry for the Champion Hurdle and Penser commented: “It’s a possibility he will go hurdling and we will have to think about it, especially as he’s likely to get his ground in the winter.”

There was a sting in the tail for Holland, however, as he picked up bans totalling four days – two for careless riding and a further two for using his whip down the shoulder and in the forehand position.

He will be out of action on September 27 and 28 and October 3 and 4.

On what proved a good day for local stables, New Seeker showed himself to be as good as ever following a long campaign as he made all to land the Dubai Duty Free Cup by three and a half lengths from Vortex.

The Clive Cox-trained five-year-old travelled beautifully for Dane O’Neill and quickly set his seal on the contest when his rider asked him to quicken away approaching the final furlong.

Cox is keen to aim the 6-4 winner at a Group race in Ireland and said: “There’s a race over seven and a half furlongs at Tipperary. It’s a Group Three and is a distinct possibility but the one thing I wouldn’t do is run him on really soft ground.

“I left the blinkers off him because he’s been in such fantastic form and I think he fully deserves a step up.

“He’s overcome a couple of training setbacks and I’m so full of admiration for him. He’ll definitely stay in training next year.”

Although he does not hold the Vodafone Derby entry, Mark Johnston’s Winged Cupid was given a 33-1 quote for the premier Classic by Coral, Ladbrokes and VC Bet after his two-length victory over Shahin in the Haynes, Hanson And Clark Conditions Stakes.

His time of 1m 37.50s was a course record.

Kevin Darley brought the son of In The Wings up the centre of the track and the further the winner went, the better he looked, prompting his rider to observe: “There’s not a bad bone in his body. He’s such a gentleman. He stood in the gate as quiet as a lamb but as soon as they opened he was travelling.”

One of his owners, Joy Feerick, said: “Hopefully the Racing Post Trophy will be on his agenda but we are really looking forward to next year with him.”

Equally impressive was John Dunlop’s Mostaqeleh in her dismissal of six rivals in the Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Conditions Stakes.

Always on the premises, the 1-2 favourite quickened away to score by two lengths from I’m In Love when Richard Hills gave her the office.

Coral cut her to 25-1 from 33-1 for the 1000 Guineas, although her jockey sees her more as a staying filly.

Mick Channon received a boost ahead of the big sales race tomorrow, in which he fields the favourite, Flashy Wings, when South Cape made a winning debut in the EBF Dubai Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes.

The winner was the subject of an on-course gamble and Channon is keen to run Ted Durcan’s mount again before the end of the season.

Frankie Dettori, out of luck with Into The Dark, gained consolation when delivering Safsoof (7-1) late to catch King’s Caprice in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap.

The latter looked all over the winner when kicking a couple of lengths clear inside the distance, but Dettori was at his determined best on the Godolphin-owned winner.

Whirly Bird (9-2) overcame a four-month absence to extend her winning sequence to five with a half-length victory for trainer Amanda Perrett and jockey Ryan Moore in the Dubai Duty Free Foundation Handicap.