Caradak makes winning bow
Godolphin may have made a slow start to the season but they continued their recent renaissance as Caradak took the Lillian Summers Memorial Conditions Stakes at Newbury.
Less than 24 hours after Ashaawes obliged for Sheikh Mohammed and his team in the feature at Leicester, Caradak repeated the trick when making a winning debut at the prohibitive odds of 2-7.
The five-year-old, a dual Group Three winner for John Oxx last year, was enjoying his first start in the famous blue silks having arrived at Godolphin’s Newmarket stables as part of a package which included 2005 Irish Oaks winner Shawanda.
Frankie Dettori kept a cool head despite the odds-on favourite labouring to get to the front but after he poked his nose into the lead half a furlong from home, the race was over.
The former Aga Khan-owned horse was well in command inside the closing stages and passed the post with half a length to spare over Saville Road (7-1) with the only other runners Grimes Faith and Rosinka well in arrears.
Godolphin spokesman Alan Byrne said: “Frankie said he was not worried at any stage but the horse would have needed it as he was ring-rusty.
“This was a nice starting point and he has done it well.
“He is effective between seven furlongs and a mile so he has plenty of options.
“There are a few races at Goodwood which are possibles and the Lennox Stakes could be a nice race for him.”
William Muir is hoping Kahlua Kiss (7-2 favourite) can pick up some black type after her smooth length-and-a-half call in the Turfsurf Equine Surfacing Fillies’ Handicap.
Martin Dwyer was cruising on the filly entering the final two furlongs and she settled matters when going clear soon after, eventually beating the staying-on Noora (6-1) with Bracklinn (9-2) taking third.
“I have always thought she is a good filly and when she got to the front she pricked her ears. If she could have got a lead further she might not have needed to come off the bridle,” said Muir.
“I will look for another nice race over 10 furlongs with her and then try and pick up some black type as she will be a broodmare in time.”
Richard Hills struck for the John Dunlop yard when driving Aqmaar out for a length-and-a-quarter success in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Maiden Stakes.
Backed in from 12-1 to 9-1, the newcomer ate up the ground in the final two furlongs and swept by the front-running Putra Square (16-1) to win going away.
Monzante (20-1), carrying the second colours of Khalid Abdullah, came from the back of the pack to take third under Steve Drowne.
“It was his first time out and he was green,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
“Richard said they only went a hack-canter and you have to bear that in mind but he is a long-striding horse and he will improve for that.
“He has plenty of scope and hopefully he will go on next year, but he will stay at seven furlongs for the moment.”
Vital Statistics ran creditably at Royal Ascot and the Queen Mary sixth got off the mark with victory in the Hillwood Stud EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The John Egan-ridden juvenile hit the front with a furlong left to run but the Richard Hannon-trained Party (13-2) went with her and pressed the 4-1 winner all the way to the line.
A head separated the pair in the finish and they pulled clear of Small Fortune (14-1), who was two and a half lengths back in third.
Winning trainer David Elsworth was represented by Jeannie Brown, who said: “She settled in nicely and finished really well – she is much more relaxed than she normally is.
“We were just commenting in the paddock that she looked very well and perhaps she is just starting to come to herself.
“She ran a cracking race at Ascot and we will probably keep her to six furlongs for the time being – but that will be up to the boss.”
Darghan (6-1) gave Tom Queally his second winner in three days when storming up the centre of the track to take the Sporting Index Handicap by a neck from Hatch A Plan.
