Dettori wins first Italian 2000 Guineas at final attempt on Vero Atleta

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Frankie Dettori ticked another big race off his bucket list during his final season in the saddle when he returned to his homeland to win the Italian 2000 Guineas for the first time on Vero Atleta.

Although the 52-year-old struck gold in the fillies equivalent – the Premio Regina Elena – aboard Nicole Pharly in 1997, and despite finishing second four times, the Premio Parioli had eluded the decorated jockey.

However, he was handed the perfect opportunity to end his duck aboard Grizzetti Galoppo’s 4-6 favourite Vero Atleta, who headed into the race having been crowned Italy’s champion two-year-old last season.

The duo obliged in real style with Dettori urging his mount to hit top gear entering the home straight before guiding the son of Gleneagles to a clear-cut four-and-a-half-length victory.

In winning the Campannelle Group Three, the Italian replicates his father Gianfranco who scooped the Classic twice, in 1989 and 1991.

Frankie Dettori's father, Gianfranco, also won the Italian 2000 Guineas
Frankie Dettori’s father, Gianfranco, also won the Italian 2000 Guineas (David Davies/PA)

“Finally after 35 years, and being second four times, I have finally done it,” said Dettori.

“I had one last go and I’ve got the full house now and I can retire happy.

“I had the pick of the race and everyone wanted me to ride their horses. I picked the best three-year-old and he won in style, he was great.

“He was the champion two-year-old and we had a lot of rain and a mile was a bit on the short side. He will be a good candidate for the Italian Derby. He won in very good style and it was a great day.

“It was a bit emotional and everyone made a big fuss of me and it is nice to be able to retire and say I have won the 2000, 1000, Derby and the Oaks. It was great to be able to come back to my homeland despite the weather being bad.”

Dettori was also aboard the favourite Aquila Reale in the Premio Regina Elena but having attempted to make all, faded into third behind Shavasana, ridden by Cristian Demuro and trained by Stefano Botti.

But having soaked in the adulation of his countrymen, the Italian’s sights now turn towards Newmarket and the first British Classics of the season where he will partner leading Qipco 2000 Guineas hope Chaldean on Saturday.

“I went to Chaldean at the weekend at Andrew Balding’s and everything was fine,” added Dettori.

“I’m possibly going to ride Lezoo in the 1000 Guineas, she won the Cheveley Park and the season starts now really.

“It’s a shame we’ve had a lot of rain at the moment but we’ve got lots to look forward to.”

Visualisation makes all to claim Mooresbridge success

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Joseph O’Brien’s Visualisation made all under Declan McDonogh to win the Coolmore Stud Sottsass Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes as Luxembourg was unable to land a blow on his seasonal reappearance.

The one-time Derby favourite and dual Group One winner was sent off 10-11 favourite to make a winning return and looked to have every chance when Wayne Lordon asked his mount for an effort two furlongs from home.

However, he failed to pick up with any real enthusiasm leaving Visualisation to steal the show at 12-1, and go one better than his second in the Alleged Stakes last month.

On that occasion his from-the-front tactics saw him reeled in by Point Lonsdale late on, but the five-year-old refused to be passed on this occasion, holding on gamely from last year’s winner Layfayette to score by one and a half lengths. Piz Badile was third.

“Declan gave him a great ride. The horse loves soft, tacky, ground,” said O’Brien.

“He was third in this last year on goodish ground. He missed most of last season after a hold-up but he’s come back in real good shape this season. He’s a mud lover.

“Declan said that he felt he moved a bit early on him the last day and he was going to move a bit later today. He said his kick lasted him until 100 yards from the line last time and that he was going to wait an extra 100 yards today. He got him to the line today.

“I have to say it was all up to Declan and he gave him fantastic ride.

“He’s been a good horse for a while and that ground is his thing. Wherever he goes the ground will have to have soft in the description.”

Luxembourg was slightly hampered a furlong out but stayed on one-paced for fifth.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “It was his first run of the year and he was a bit rusty.

“The plan was to come here, then come back for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and that is still what we are going to do.

“He ran a lovely race, he’ll come on plenty for it and being a four-year-old colt first time out, there’s always going to be a lot of improvement.

“The plan was here, the Tattersalls, Royal Ascot over a mile and a quarter (Prince of Wales’s Stakes) and then step him up to a mile and a half possibly for the King George. The first run is over and hopefully he comes back fine after this.”

Sweet Athasi success for Honey Girl

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Honey Girl led home a one-two for trainer Joseph O’Brien in the Coolmore Stud Circus Maximus Irish EBF Athasi Stakes at the Curragh.

Placed at Group Three level and sixth in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last season for Henry de Bromhead, Honey Girl changed hands for 180,000 guineas in November and made an immediate impact on her debut for new connections when notching a first career victory at the Curragh in late March.

The four-year-old faced a step back up in class for this seven-furlong Group Three, but proved more than up to the task in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle, picking up well without being asked for maximum effort to prevail by an impressive three and a half lengths.

The winner’s high-class stablemate Agartha was best of the rest in second, with the William Haggas-trained 5-2 favourite Queen Aminatu a disappointing seventh of eight runners.

O’Brien said of Honey Girl: “She had some very smart form last season for Henry de Bromhead and ran very well in Group One company.

“She won very well here last time and it’s nice to see her back that up with another good performance today. She’s an exciting filly for the future.

Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle (right) with trainer Joseph O’Brien at the Curragh
Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle (right) with trainer Joseph O’Brien at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)

“It’s nice to see her back up a good run with another good run as she didn’t always so that. They get confidence from winning, there is no doubt about that, and it’s nice to win a Group race with her.

“We don’t have anything immediately in mind, but her owners are Australian and they are going to Royal Ascot so there is a fair chance she’ll turn up there somewhere, but she’ll probably be at her best in the spring and autumn when she has a bit of juice in the ground.

“I was very proud of Agartha’s run. She disappointed us a little bit here the first day of the season but it was nice to see her come back to nearly her best form today. I’m sure there is more to come from her.”

Greenland enters Classic reckoning with Prix Greffulhe win

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Aidan O’Brien won the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud for the first time as Greenland pulled out all the stops to earn a possible crack at the French Derby.

Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the 6-5 favourite was always close to the pace set by Harry Way, and the duo became embroiled in a titanic tussle up the home straight, with nothing to separate the pair until the winning post – where the judge delivered a nose verdict in the Irish raider’s favour.

Owners Coolmore won the race with the Andre Fabre-trained Pour Moi on the way to Derby success in 2011, but whereas Pour Moi’s finest hour came at Epsom, Greenland could be heading to Chantilly on June 4 with O’Brien favouring the Prix du Jockey Club for his son of Saxon Warrior.

He said: “Christophe was very happy with him. He said he got there and waited a little bit.

“He said he’d like better ground and that he felt like a horse with plenty of class and he thought that he was a French Derby horse.”

Elsewhere on the card, Fabre’s Tribalist enhanced his reputation with an all-the-way success in the Prix du Muguet.

The Godolphin-owned colt had downed The Revenant when making all over the same course and distance on reappearance and put further daylight between himself and Francis-Henri Graffard’s 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner this time as he followed up under a fine front-running ride from Mickael Barzalona.

It was Fabre’s 10th win in the Group Three contest and his latest winner holds an entry for Newbury’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes on May 20.

Paddington earns his crust in Tetrarch win

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Paddington further strengthened Aidan O’Brien’s formidable Classic hand with a clear-cut success in the Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh.

A five-length winner of a maiden at the track last season, the Siyouni colt kicked off the current campaign with victory in the Madrid Handicap at Leopardstown, earning him a step up in class for a Listed race his trainer had not won for 20 years.

With Seamie Heffernan in the saddle, the 5-6 favourite travelled like the best horse in the race for much of the one-mile contest and picked up well once popped the question to score by a length and a half from stablemate Drumroll, who also shaped with plenty of promise on only his second career start.

The winner was taken out of Saturday’s Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before Monday’s confirmation stage, but his big-race entries do include the Irish Guineas and the French Guineas, as well as the Dante Stakes at York and the Derby at Epsom.

O’Brien said: “He came forward lovely from Naas. He won his maiden very easy last year and everyone has been delighted with him at home.

“He won the three-year-old handicap at Naas over seven furlongs and this was his first step up to a mile. We thought that he’d get it and that he could even get further.

“He’d have the option of going to the French Guineas or the Irish Guineas and then he could end up being a French Derby horse after that.

“He handles the ground well, he’s by Siyouni out of a Montjeu mare so should handle it on both sides. We’re delighted with him.”

Paddington completed a Listed race double on the card for the O’Brien-Heffernan combination, with 5-2 shot His Majesty earlier making a winning debut in the GAIN First Flier Stakes.

His Majesty and Seamie Heffernan on their way to victory
His Majesty and Seamie Heffernan on their way to victory (Damien Eagers/PA)

O’Brien is hopeful the son of No Nay Never can earn himself a place on his team for Royal Ascot.

“He did it lovely. He’s a lovely, big, sleepy horse,” he said.

“Seamus said he had loads of speed but he was relaxed, he said when he clicked he found plenty. He’s like a four-year-old, a big mature horse.

“You always try to get two runs before Ascot but it’s hard enough to do it here because there aren’t many races. It’s a big advantage if you can. Wherever we can get him out again, we’ll try.”

Do It with Style draws clear at the Curragh
Do It with Style draws clear at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)

Aidan’s son Donnacha O’Brien also has the Royal meeting in mind for Do It With Style (3-1) after her successful introduction in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden under Gavin Ryan.

“We thought she was smart. I was a little bit worried about the ground, she’ll be better on better ground, but it was nice to see her do that,” said the trainer.

“I’ll speak to the owners and see but I suppose the Albany Stakes could definitely be an option.”

Former Classic-winning jockey Micky Fenton celebrated his first winner as a trainer when Run Forest Run (8-1) came from the clouds to win the Keadeen Hotel Handicap under Jamie Powell.

“Jamie got to know him after a few rides which was a big help. It’s taken a while to work out how he has to be ridden,” said Fenton.

“It’s brilliant, the Curragh has always been lucky for me. I’ve always had a few winners here when I was a jockey. It’s good to come back and train one here, I can’t believe it really.

“My wife Stephanie led it up as well, we’re only a small stable. We have nine in at the moment and it’s our first full year. I’m based near Mallow.

When asked how this compared to riding winners he said: “ It’s completely different, it’s a big buzz. A dream come true really.”

Gavin Cromwell sets sights on Nottingham with Sunset Shiraz

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Gavin Cromwell will saddle his first runner at Nottingham on Tuesday when Sunset Shiraz undertakes a raiding mission on the British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes.

Although the daughter of Time Test has only won once in her 11-race career, she has performed with real credit in some competitive races – placing at Group and Listed level four times at two and going close in two of her three outings last season.

She now tries 10 furlongs for only the second time following a pleasing return at the Curragh in March and her handler envisages no issues with the step up in trip.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell has never saddled a runner at Nottingham before
Trainer Gavin Cromwell has never saddled a runner at Nottingham before (David Davies/PA)

“The soft ground shouldn’t be an issue for her and although she hasn’t gone that far on this ground before, she’s a year older and hopefully she will get the trip OK,” said Cromwell.

“She should be fine over 10 furlongs. She had a nice first run back and we were happy enough. If she has come on for that, hopefully she will be thereabouts.

“She’s been placed in some very good races, we would love to win again with her but she’s really consistent. I’ve never been there (Nottingham) before but I’m looking forward to it.”

Sir Michael Stoute has won this twice in recent years with Sun Maiden (2019) and Noon Star (2022) and this time relies upon the upwardly mobile Crystal Caprice – a Frankel filly out of a Listed-winning sister to Crystal Ocean and Hillstar.

William Haggas’ Golden Lyra acquitted herself well last season before signing off with victory at Saint-Cloud in a Listed race, while Charlie Appleby’s Musidora second Life Of Dreams and Roger Varian’s Mukaddamah add further depth to the Listed contest.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Misty Dancer embarked on a three-race winning run last summer before disappointing in the Gillies Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster and is given a second chance to test her mettle at this level on her reappearance.

“Misty Dancer will like the ground at Nottingham as the rain that has come gives her every chance,” said Ed Crisford.

“Although proving versatile winning on three different types of going, she wants some cut in the ground.

“The horse has been working really well at home and is making more progress than we expected, which is promising ahead of her first run of the season.

“These Listed races are always very deep and wide-open contests but we fancy our chances to at least run into the frame.”

Auguste Rodin remains on course for Newmarket

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Auguste Rodin heads 15 colts confirmed for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien’s son of Deep Impact is not only ante-post favourite for the first Classic of the season on the Rowley Mile but also heads the market for the Derby at Epsom next month, such was the impression he made as a juvenile last term.

Auguste Rodin won three of his four starts at two, rounding off the year with a dominant display in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, and looks set to make his return to action this weekend.

One of his biggest threats could come from his own yard with stablemate Little Big Bear, who has not been seen in competitive action since his brilliant victory in the Phoenix Stakes in August, also standing his ground. Cairo, meanwhile, is a potential third string for O’Brien.

Little Big Bear leads the way in the Phoenix Stakes
Little Big Bear leads the way in the Phoenix Stakes (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Speaking at the Curragh on Monday, the Ballydoyle handler confirmed his intention to saddle both Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear.

He said: “So far so good, everything has gone good so far. At the moment both are on the way, that’s the plan at the moment.”

On jockey bookings, O’Brien added: “Obviously Ryan (Moore) won’t decide that until he sees everything. I would imagine at the moment he’s going to ride Auguste, but that’s not in stone.”

The home team is headed by Chaldean, who unseated Frankie Dettori shortly after the gates opened in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury a couple of weeks ago, but has proven class and course form as the winner of last season’s Dewhurst Stakes.

Roger Varian looks set to saddle Mill Reef winner Sakheer and the Greenham runner-up Charyn, while Charlie Appleby has the unbeaten Gimcrack victor Noble Style and Breeders’ Cup second Silver Knott in the mix as he bids for back-to-back wins following the victory of Coroebus last season.

Other hopefuls include Paul and Oliver Cole’s Royal Scotsman, who was beaten a head by Chaldean in the Dewhurst, and Craven winner Indestructible – one of three possible runners for trainer Karl Burke along with Holloway Boy and Flight Plan.

French Group One winner Dubai Mile (Charlie Johnston), Galeron (Charlie Hills) and Hi Royal (Kevin Ryan) complete the acceptors.

Dermot Weld’s Tahiyra heads 1000 Guineas confirmations

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Dermot Weld’s Tahiyra features amongst the 22 confirmations for the Qipco 1000 Guineas, the opening fillies Classic of the season.

The daughter of Siyouni is unbeaten in two outings having followed up an impressive debut victory at Galway by downing Aidan O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup heroine Meditate in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last September and she has held a position towards the top of the ante-post lists ever since.

Tahiyra and Meditate dominate the top of the market for Sunday’s race at Newmarket and Weld has issued an update suggesting the favourite is likely to line up.

“We’ve left her in at the forfeit stage for the 1000 Guineas on Sunday and the present thought is she will run, but we will make a definite decision later in the week and see how she is,” Weld told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast.

“She’s coming all the time, she’s a filly that hasn’t really grown from two to three but I’m happy and I think she has progressed nicely over the last two weeks and the present thought is we will let her take her chance. We will not confirm that till later in the week.”

As well as Meditate O’Brien could saddle Never Ending Story, with Kieran Cotter’s Matilda Picotte, second to Never Ending Story recently, also on course for a raiding mission.

Richard Hannon leads the British charge with his Nell Gwyn winner Mammas Girl and could also be represented by Powerdress, while as well as Mammas Girl, owners Amo Racing could see Olivia Maralda make her debut for Roger Varian in the race.

Mammas Girl winning the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket
Mammas Girl winning the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Mawj got the better of Dream Of Love by a short head on her first run at Meydan before going on to trounce Nell Gwyn runner-up Fairy Cross in the next time out and that trio give Godolphin a strong hand in a race they last won in 2011 with Blue Bunting.

Ralph Beckett could saddle three in search of his first victory in the race with Fred Darling winner Remarquee, last year’s Cheveley Park champion Lezoo and Dick Poole winner Juliet Sierra all poised to step out onto the Rowley Mile.

It will be Lezoo’s first outing since storming to victory at the track last autumn and connections are keen to praise the efforts of the team at Beckett’s Hampshire base for ensuring their star filly makes the line-up.

Lezoo powered to victory in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket
Lezoo powered to victory in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (David Davies/PA)

“Lezoo goes for the 1000 Guineas and it’s a great feat by the team at Kimpton to have both Lezoo ready to run and Prosperous Voyage who will run in the Dahlia Stakes that day. Hopefully Frankie will ride both of them,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for owners Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen.

“That’s a fair achievement and so much can go wrong – we’ve had a very cold and wet spring – and we’re really happy to be heading there on Sunday.”

Of those not confirmed, Karl Burke’s Electric Eyes was shortest in the betting, while John Quinn’s Breege and John and Thady Gosden’s Running Lion are other notable names to skip the May 7 contest.

No Coronation Classic bid for Slipofthepen

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Slipofthepen could be rerouted to the French 2000 Guineas after connections decided against a bid for Classic glory at Newmarket this weekend.

Two impressive all-weather wins at Kempton from John and Thady Gosden’s promising colt raised the exciting prospect that the three-year-old could give the King and the Queen Consort a runner in the Qipco 2000 Guineas on the ruling monarch’s Coronation Day.

Slipofthepen enjoyed a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile last week, but was not left in the first Classic of the season at Monday’s confirmation stage, with the team opting for a more patient approach.

Slipofthepen galloping at Newmarket
Slipofthepen galloping at Newmarket (The Jockey Club/John Hoy/Megan Ridgwell)

Speaking on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast, the King’s racing manager John Warren said: “I think we were all hoping for that to be the case (that Slipofthepen would run in the 2000 Guineas), especially because it would have been both the King and the Queen Consort’s first Classic runner.

“But I think once we pieced all the jigsaw together and really analysed his prospects, I think we thought it’s come a little bit too soon. He’s an inexperienced horse who is only just learning how to use his legs as fast as he needs to.

“He’s won two races on the all-weather impressively and John Gosden thinks he’s up to becoming a high-class performer, (but) when we added it all together we felt it would be kinder to the horse to give him a little bit more experience.”

Slipofthepen could run at Royal Ascot for owner King Charles III
Slipofthepen could run at Royal Ascot for owner King Charles III (Molly Darlington/PA)

Whether Slipofthepen heads for ParisLongchamp or not, his main target is to run in front of his owners at Royal Ascot next month.

Warren added: “He’ll do some important racecourse gallops and because he’s held in high regard, there’s a possibility that we will not discount looking at the French Guineas.

“It’s early days to be firm on the plan, but here we are two weeks out from that and that’s what we’re looking at, and if we don’t make it there is the Heron Stakes at Sandown a few days later with the objective that all roads lead to Ascot, which would be great.

“We’re hoping the King and the Queen Consort will be able to attend racing that week, so it would be tremendous to give them a few runners.”

Dante target for Dancing Magic

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Roger Teal views Dancing Magic as “probably the best maiden in the country” as he prepares to step his consistent colt up in trip for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

Beaten only a length on debut at Salisbury last season, the son of Camelot was unfortunate not to shed his maiden status at Newbury on his second start before being handed some stiff assignments in his final three outings at two.

Following a second to Naval Power in Haydock’s Ascendant Stakes, he was then beaten less than three lengths behind Godolphin’s 2000 Guineas hope Silver Knott before bumping into Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin in the Group One Vertem Futurity where the bay finished a creditable fourth.

Held in high regard by his handler and the team at Shefford Valley Stables, he again ran a fine race in defeat when third in the Craven on his return and having ruled out a return to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas, Teal is now eyeing a move up to 10 furlongs on the Knavesmire on May 18.

He said: “He’s come out of the Craven well and we decided to miss the Guineas and go to York for the Dante – I think he will be suited by a step up in trip.

“We were delighted with him and he ran a great race and hopefully he can go to York now and we’ll give him a chance over a mile and a quarter and see how he goes.

“He’s probably the best maiden in the country and he has never actually disappointed us. He was unlucky not to break his maiden tag at Newbury last season, but whenever we’ve thrown him in, he’s never disgraced us. He’s going the right way anyway.”

York could also be graced with the presence of Teal’s Royal Ascot scorer Oxted who is in line to return from a long absence in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes.

The winner of the King’s Stand at the Royal meeting in 2021, he was last seen finishing third in the July Cup later that summer, then missing the best part of two years through injury.

However, the seven-year-old is now nearing his eagerly-awaited return with the hope of rewarding the patience of his connections when back to full fitness.

Oxted ridden by jockey Cieren Fallon celebrates winning the King’s Stand Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot in 2021
Oxted ridden by jockey Cieren Fallon celebrates winning the King’s Stand Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot in 2021 (Steven Paston/PA)

“Oxted is good and hopefully you will see him at York,” continued Teal.

“He’s training well and we are delighted with him. Fingers crossed we can get him to York in one piece and that will kick start his season.

“Whether or not he will be straight enough to win I don’t know, but we’ve got to start somewhere and he will come on for the run that’s for sure – he’s been off the track a fair while.

“The owners have been very patient and a lot of work has gone into getting him back. He’s been up on the treadmill at Fiona Marner’s at Windmill Farm and they have done a lot of the boring stuff for us and then we’ve got him back and he’s starting to shine.

“Every day is a sort of prayer day but hopefully we can get him there.”