Cunningham determined to keep hold of Blini

Nothing, not even an oil well, will be prising Donna Blini from the grasp of owner Shaun Cunningham after success in the Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

An impressive winner in a juvenile Group One event is usually a potential target for the likes of Godolphin, but Cunningham – a wine merchant by trade - said the chequebooks might as well stay in the drawer.

“She’s not for sale, even if Sheikh Mohammed wants to give me an oil well,” he said. “I’ll never get another horse as good as this again and I’m not about to give up the dream now. Brian (Meehan) has done a brilliant job.”

Mick Kinane gave the 12-1 winner a typically masterful ride to kick ahead of his rivals over one furlong out.

And the ground the Irishman pinched at that point proved decisive as the game filly held off the late challenges of Wake Up Maggie and favourite Flashy Wings by a neck and the same.

Donna Blini had been off the course since landing the Cherry Hinton Stakes back in July and she showed signs of freshness when keen in the early stages.

But once Kinane had managed to get a tow from early leader Dizzy Dreamer, he was able to settle his mount.

The latter gave way on meeting the rising ground and it was at that point Donna Blini was sent about her business and rallied well to see off the persistent challenge of the runner-up.

Ted Durcan had settled Flashy Wings towards the rear of the 10-runner field and made a deal of ground up in the closing stages.

The bookmakers clearly agreed that Flashy Wings had been unable to show her best form, as she remains ahead of Donna Blini in the ante-post betting for the 1000 Guineas.

But winning trainer Meehan, landing back-to-back successes following Magical Romance 12 months ago, was not about to let that bother him.

“I don’t worry about that sort of thing,” he said. “I think she’s a Guineas filly and that’s what she will be trained for. My first impression is she won’t run again this season.

“I wouldn’t think there would be a problem with the trip as long as they go a good enough gallop with her.

“She’s a lovely filly. She proved it in the Cherry Hinton. We debated the Lowther and all sorts of things, the Moyglare and even the Doncaster sales race with all that money, but we felt it was best to wait and give her time.

“She’s a tough, hardy filly and she galloped all the way to the line. Maybe the break she had made her idle a bit going to the line. We are very pleased with her.

“It’s been a good season. We haven’t had as many two-year-old winners but we’ve had fewer runners because they have been more backward which means we’ve more to look forward to in the future.”

The owner’s comments were backed up by those of Kinane, who had guessed a positive ride might pay dividends.

“Brian’s done a good job with her – he’s turned her out in great shape today. She looked marvellous,” he said. “I rode her at Newmarket in July and told Brian to give her a little time – she’s scopey and has plenty of improvement in her.

“I was delighted to get a lead and I was going the pace I wanted to be going. I was always happy with her.

“She was a shade fresh but I knew when we quickened, we were going to take some pegging back. She’s scopey enough to get further. She’s pacey and relaxes to give herself every opportunity.”

Wake Up Maggie’s trainer Chris Wall refused to be disappointed with his filly’s defeat.

“There was no disgrace in that, no hard luck stories,” he said.

“Obviously we would have liked to have won but we lost nothing in defeat - she has been beaten by the Cherry Hinton winner. We will give her a break over the winter and prepare her for the Guineas. The jockey is pretty confident she will stay the mile.”

Similarly, Mick Channon was refusing to be downcast about Flashy Wings’ defeat, despite her making up plenty of ground in the final furlong from such an unpromising position at halfway.

“I have no complaints and no excuses – she has done everything right and has finished her race well,” he said. “All credit to the winner though, she is a good filly.

“I have been waiting to have her ridden more patiently for a long time and she has run her race and I am delighted with her.

“It will be easy to sleep easy over the winter as she will be a proper horse next year – I have always known she is a Guineas filly.”