Surprise makes winning return

Dubai Surprise made a triumphant return after a year off the track with a hard-fought success at Leicester.

Niggling problems had prevented the three-year-old filly from running after she had finished second in a Group One in France last October.

Finally having her first race since being transferred to Godolphin from David Loder’s stable, the King’s Best filly got the better of the game front-runner Little Miss Gracie to win the ladbrokescasino.com Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

Dubai Surprise, ridden by Frankie Dettori, won by three-quarters of a length. Quickfire, who was a head away third, looked slightly unlucky as the door was closed on her when she tried to make her challenge between the first two.

However, there was no denying the relief on trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s face after the 11-8 favourite’s victory.

“It’s taken almost one year to get her on the track,” he said.

“The filly has had tiny problems and it’s taken a long time. Everytime we have got her ready to run we have found another small problem.

“Today we thought we would run her over a mile for her first race to give her confidence for the future.

“We want to find a Group race for her over a mile and a quarter on softer ground.

“We will try to find a race for her this month, maybe abroad. We will keep our options open with her. At least she has shown she has kept her form.”

Kieren Fallon completed a short-priced double in the two divisions of the EBF ladbrokes.com Reference Point Maiden Stakes on odds-on shots Papal Bull (8-13) and Best Alibi (4-6).

From the moment Fallon grabbed the stands side rail on Papal Bull, he had division one in complete control as the colt easily saw off the opposition.

Michael Stoute’s two-year-old won cosily by two lengths from Cousteau with Bandama a length and a quarter away third.

“He’s nice horse and Kieren likes him. His two previous runs set in good stead and he had the rail to help him,” said Stoute’s travelling head lad Jimmy Scott.

“He hung his head to one side but that’s just the way he is. I thought he lengthened well. Once he met the rising ground he’s come home nicely.”

Fallon was at his coolest when bringing home Best Alibi by a neck from Acheekyone in division two after looking in trouble.

“He’d have been an unlucky second had he got wedged in there,” said Scott.

“I liked his attitude – he stuck his neck out all the way to the line. He picked up in two strides when Kieren asked him the question. I’d think he’d get further looking at that performance.”

Mulaqat, who had Best Alibi back in third when winning at Yarmouth last month, had to work hard to oblige in the ladbrokes.com Conditions Stakes.

The 5-4 favourite only wore down long-time leader Silidan in the last 100 yards under a hard drive from Richard Hughes and scraped home by a head.

“Richard said the ground was a bit slow which would not have been ideal for him as he likes to hear his feet rattle,” said Patrick MacEwan, assistant to trainer Marcus Tregoning.

“That may be it for him now. He’s done everything asked of him this year and he has now won his last three.”

Under The Rainbow, last on her debut at Newmarket three weeks ago, stunned punters with a 50-1 victory in the EBF ladbrokes.com Soar Maiden Stakes.

The juvenile filly, ridden by Ryan Moore, beat Barodine a head with Nosferatu a neck back in third but the win was not a surprise to connections.

“She’s always shown something at home and first time out she did not know what she was doing,” said Alex Cairns, head lad to trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam.

“When we saw her price, me and the girls who led her up have all had a couple of pounds each-way on her. We had to back her. We had looked at the race and thought there wasn’t a lot in it. She was better than her Newmarket form stated.”

Fossgate, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Alan Munro, sprang a 25-1 surprise in the ladbrokes.com Handicap when holding Dispol Foxtrot and Monash Lad by a neck and a short head.

Monkstown Road (10-1) finally got off the mark at the 10th attempt with a narrow victory in the ladbrokescasino.com Selling Handicap.

The three-year-old colt, got up in the dying strides under Graham Gibbons to pip Stamford Blue by a neck.

“He did well in the end today. It’s took him long enough to get his head in front,” said Max Geldard, trainer Ed McMahon’s representative.

Monkstown Road was retained by connections for 4,200 guineas.

Legally First, wearing blinkers for the first time, gave Paul Cole a winner from his only runner at the track.

The 3-1 favourite, ridden by Nelson de Souza, took the ladbrokes.com Claiming Stakes by a neck from He’s A Star.

He impressed jumps trainer Simon Burrough, who claimed him for £15,000.