Dancing Rain takes Fillies' And Mares' Stakes at Ascot
Dancing Rain was an impressive all-the-way winner of the Qipco British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes to give Johnny Murtagh a quickfire double at Ascot.
Just 35 minutes after winning on Deacon Blues in the Sprint, Murtagh once again showed his class by getting the fractions absolutely spot on in front.
Sent off at 6-1, despite being the only Group One winner in the field, William Haggas' Epsom Oaks heroine, who also won the German version, had nearly all her rivals in trouble turning into the straight.
Jessica Harrington's Bible Belt travelled sweetly through the rest of the field to challenge, but could never get closer than the two lengths she was beaten. Gertrude Bell was third.
Haggas said: "If she keeps winning like that she'll get the recognition. We think she's outstanding anyway.
"It's always a good ride when they win. Johnny was very cross after the Irish Oaks because he didn't make enough use of her and he just came in and said I don't make the same mistake twice.
"He judged it right and he's a top-class rider.
"My wife Maureen rides her every morning and she said the filly had never felt better than today, so she deserves the credit not me.
"The plan is to go to Japan on November 14 and very much (stay in training) next year."
Murtagh said: "I wasn't going to make a mess of it like I did at the Curragh and William said to me 'once bitten twice shy'.
"They went a good pace at the Curragh but they just stopped four-out and she lost all momentum, but when I got her going again we finished on their heels.
"The aim was an even gallop all the way and use her momentum. She's got a high cruising gear and she quickened up.
"We went a good pace all the way. She stayed well and I knew they were going to have to stay to catch me.
"I don't think she'd have been able to do that back at Oaks time, she was a big leggy filly then, but she's strengthened up which enabled her to maintain the gallop.
"I love Ascot!"
Harrington said of Bible Belt: "I'm thrilled with that, it was probably a career-best, and she has come back to the form of before her last run.
"She found the ground too soft last time (at the Curragh) and even today Fran (Berry) thought the ground was a little slow for her.
"She definitely stays in training next year, but we haven't discussed a plan."
John Gosden said of Gertrude Bell: "It was a great run, the winner has come back to her Oaks form, and the second is very useful too.
"She is my wife's first home-bred and she will now be retired and sent to Oasis Dream."
