Just Champion - Literato wins for France
Saturday 20th October, 2007
Literato (Christophe Lemaire) - short head winner of the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes. Picture Steven Cargill
TRAINER JEAN-Claude Rouget saluted his charge with the big heart as Literato recorded a glorious Group 1 triumph in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.
The French raider, second to Lawman Prix du Jockey Club, struck a blow for the Classic generation as he emerged victorious from a titanic duel with Eagle Mountain.
Literato, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, just held by a short head in a thrilling finale to secure a brilliant 7-2 success - his fourth win in six outings this year.
Rouget said: “This horse has the maximum of heart. You see him and he is such a little thing, but he is so courageous. He has only been beaten twice. On the first occasion it was his first run of the season and in the Jockey-Club he ran well but was beaten.
"I thought today it would be tough for him as he had never met older horses or run on a straight course. We were more confident of a place than a win, so this is a great moment.”
Champions’ Day’s other feature saw New Approach confirm that he is a shining talent of the two-year-old division, winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes for trainer Jim Bolger, who prevailed in the race 12 months ago with Teofilo.
The Galileo colt has followed exactly the same path as Teofilo and rounded off his juvenile season in an identical vein - with victory in the seven-furlong Group 1.
The 6-4 favourite didn’t blaze the trail as is his usual style but led entering the final furlong and found sufficient as Fast Company came at him with the win margin ending up as half-a-length. Stan James left him as the 100-30 favourite for the 2000 Guineas which they sponsor, while he is 6-1 for the Derby.
Bolger said: “This fellow is a machine and he shouldn't have any difficulty staying a mile and a half. We overdid the settling on him as I have had Derbys in mind for the last couple of weeks.”
Bolger’s fellow Irish trainer Tony Martin has long been respected in big handicaps and Leg Spinner gave him a 14-1 triumph in the £2.5million totescoop6 Cesarewitch.
The last two winners of seriousquitters.co.uk Rockfel Stakes - Speciosa and Finsceal Beo - have gone on to subsequent success in the Stan James 1000 Guineas. It remains to be seen whether Kitty Matcham can be triumphant in the 2008 renewal of the fillies’ Classic - but she earned a 20-1 quote for it after this afternoon's narrow neck victory over Missit in the seven-furlong Group 2..
The other winners on a magnificent day’s sport on the NatWest Rowley Mile were Miss Lucifer (VC Bet Challenge Stakes), Royal And Regal (Jockey Club Stakes) and Greek Renaissance (Igloos Bentinck Stakes).
By Tony Rushmer