1 May
FRANKIE Dettori was at his brilliant best this afternoon when he steered Blue Bunting to victory in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.
The Godolphin-owned daughter of Dynaformer was being ridden along at ‘The Bushes’ but finished like a rocket up the stands rail to collar Together and Maqaasid by three-quarters of a length.
It was a first British Classic for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and a third for Dettori, whose last victory in the race came aboard Kazzia in 2002.
The charismatic Italian said: “They went a good pace, which is what I wanted. It’s a great feeling to win a Classic here at Newmarket, my home town.
“She’s more of an Oaks filly, so whatever she was going to do today was going to be a bonus. It’s fantastic to win.”
Al Zarooni added: “It’s very special and I am very pleased for the filly. We always thought she was a mile and a half filly and wanted soft ground- she has shown us that everything we thought was wrong.”
I’m A Dreamer made a stunning seasonal reappearance when taking the Qatar Bloodstock Dahlia Stakes under William Buick.
Buick kicked for home over a furlong out on the daughter of Noverre and she surged away from a strong field to win by four and a half lengths.
Winning trainer David Simcock said: “She’s a big filly with a big frame so hopefully will come on for this.
“She’ll go for the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot next. That race is ideal then we can step her up to ten furlongs.”
The Tweenhills Pretty Polly Stakes went to the Lucy Wadham-trained Dorcas Lane under a strong ride by Paul Hanagan.
The daughter of Norse Dancer, a 9/2 chance, was under pressure a long way from home but kept galloping and went on to score by two lengths.
Wadham said: “Plan A was to go for a three-year-old maiden hurdle at Auteuil but one thing led to another and this was ‘Plan B’. She has some ‘black type’ now and is in the Ribblesdale Stakes but we shall just see.”
The opening handicap of the day, the QIPCO Sponsors British Champions Series Stakes, went to the top-weight Times Up for trainer John Dunlop and jockey Richard Hughes.
The 8/1 chance ran on strongly up the hill to catch Sharaayeen and Life And Soul inside the final furlong.
Hughes said: “My horse didn’t really handle the Dip but he flew when he hit the rising ground.”
Pastoral Player (12/1) looked a Pattern performer in the making when taking the Al Rayan handicap in good style under Steve Drowne.
The Hughie Morrison-trained four-year-old had some good form in the book and beat a competitive field by two lengths.
Morrison said: “I’d think he’ll improve a bit for the run and he could be at least Listed class.”
Commisaar (7/2) could be Royal Ascot bound following his win in the Makfi Future Stars maiden for trainer Paul Cole and jockey Jimmy Fortune.
The son of Soviet Star made every yard of the running to win going away by five lengths.
Oliver Cole, assistant to his father, said: “He was green at Newbury and has come on for it. He has a lot of speed and we’ll look at Royal Ascot for him now.”
The concluding race, the QIPCO Supporting Racing Welfare handicap, went to the John Gosden-trained Buthelezi (5/1) completing a double for jockey William Buick.
Racing resumes on the Rowley Mile on Thursday 12 May.
