Long Lashes lands Newmarket win
Long Lashes stated her case as a filly with Classic potential when landing Newmarket's skybet.com Sweet Solera Stakes today on her Godolphin debut.
Purchased by Sheikh Mohammed following a debut success for Jessica Harrington at the Curragh, the American-bred was cut to 16-1 from 25s for next year's 1,000 Guineas by William Hill, and was introduced at 20-1 for that prize by Paddy Power. Skybet cut her to 20s from 33-1.
In proving a length too strong for Blue Maiden under Ted Durcan, the 2-1 favourite survived a scare when she was thought to be going into season just hours before the race.
She also proved the middle leg of a superb treble for the jockey.
Godolphin's trainer Saeed bin Suroor will now point Long Lashes at some of the first Classics to be staged at Meydan, namely the UAE 1,000 Guineas and the UAE Oaks.
Meanwhile, the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh will come under consideration.
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "She will be going to spend the winter in Dubai and could run in the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks at Meydan.
"Obviously a European campaign is also very important and we will take a look at the Moyglare."
Commenting on the morning scare, Crisford added: "She was showing herself in season, and we alerted everybody to that fact.
"I hope it didn't put too many people off backing her."
Durcan went on to complete a double when steering 33-1 chance Jeninsky home by half a length and the same from Signor Peltro and Splendorinthegrass in the Sky Bet For All Your Football Betting Heritage Handicap.
Trainer Rae Guest missed seeing the triumph, but Durcan enthused: "Rae was adamant she would run a nice race.
"I was aware it wasn't a very strongly-run race and just sat on the leaders.
"She loved the ground and quickened up well."
Favourite-backers were on the mark at 3-1 when Perfect Shot ran out a clear-cut winner of the Racing UK Sky 432 Handicap under another well-judged ride by Durcan.
John Dunlop's colt arrived at the distance and quickly pulled three and a half lengths clear of Danzatrice.
Richard Hills used his judgment of pace to perfection when making all on Whispering Gallery in the Championship Kick Off With Sky Bet Handicap.
The combination kept finding extra when challenged and pulled two and a quarter lengths clear of Recession Proof in the final furlong.
Hills was a late replacement for JP Guillambert after Mark Johnston's other runner, Yorgunnabelucky, was taken out because of the ground.
The jockey completed a double when guiding Michael Stoute's newcomer Tabassum to a length-and-three-quarters triumph over Huroof in the second division of the fillies' maiden.
Henry Cecil looks to have a useful prospect in Manifest, who pulverised his rivals in the Royal British Legion Poppy Maiden Stakes, scoring by 19 lengths from Count Of Tuscany under Tom Queally.
The trainer said: "He's a late-maturing horse and will make up into a smashing four-year-old.
"He's related to Reams Of Verse and Many Volumes."
William Knight's two-year-olds are running well - but the trainer thought Eolith would need the run on her debut in the first division of the fillies' maiden.
That view proved to be wide of the mark as Jim Crowley brought the 12-1 chance home by a short head from Pollenator.
