DFS Park Hill Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 14:40 £90,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 6f 132y, Class 1 |
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| Thursday 11th September 2014 | |
1 Silk Sari 8/1
2 Groovejet 40/1
3 Criteria 7/1
NR: Island Remede
13 ran Distances: 5l, 1¾l, ¾l
TIME 3m 5.11s (slow by 1.11s)
Impressive performance from the fast-improving Silk Sari as she takes the DFS Park Hill Stakes for Andrea Atzeni & Luca Cumani.
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There were smiles all round from the Cumani family after Silk Sari ran out a deeply impressive winner on Town Moor this afternoon.
The 8/1 shot was always travelling sweetly under Andrea Atzeni and he barely had to move a muscle as the filly eased into the lead a furlong and a half from home to put the race to bed.
It turned into a procession in the end as the four-year-old recorded a five length victory to not only give trainer Luca Cumani another Group race success but also a victory for owners Fittocks Stud, which the Italian runs with his wife, Sara, who is the manager.
"I must say that I am surprised," said the trainer.
"I thought that she would run well because she has been in excellent form and looks great for the time of year. I thought she would run a good race but, to win like that, was unexpected.
"She will be going to Dubawi. He is a super sire, one of the best and on a par with Galileo. She will suit him physically and it will suit on bloodlines, attitudes and racing style. We might have one more run with her beforehand. There's a one mile, five furlong Group race for fillies on Arc weekend in France.
"She has been brilliant all of the time. She has done nothing but improve as a good staying filly by Dalakhani from a great family should. I trained her grand-dam Gossamer, who won the Irish Guineas, and she was a very, very good filly. It's a great family with great success and I am very pleased."
Atzeni was also wreathed in smiles after he notched up another big-race victory.
"She is a lovely filly," said the jockey.
"She travelled beautifully in behind and they went a nice gallop, which suited her. She won going away. She won a Listed race last time well enough and I think that she is just improving so much all of the time. I thought that she would run well but I didn't think that she was going to win that well."
Both Groovejet and Criteria, second and third, are set to stay in training next year.
The three-year-olds had no answer to runaway winner Silk Sari, but are progressive types and beat all their other older rivals.
40/1 chance Groovejet notched an all-weather hat-trick earlier in the year and had finished a good fifth to Missunited in the Group Three Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood on her previous outing, her first step up to today's sort of trip, a mile and three-quarters and 132 yards.
"She just stays and gallops away all day," said Ronan Meehan, representing trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam. "She's genuine and as tough as old boots and I should think she'll step up in trip again next year."
Criteria's only victory also came on the all-weather earlier this year, since when she had picked up four places in as many runs, notably her third to subsequent Irish Oaks winner Bracelet in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"She stays, she's genuine and no excuses today," said trainer John Gosden, "and she'll be a better filly next year."
DFS Park Hill Stakes
£90,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 6f 132y, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
| Pos | Dr | Dist | Horse SP Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (4) | Silk Sari 8/1 Andrea Atzeni |
9-5 | L M Cumani | 4 | |
| 2nd | (6) | 5 | Groovejet 40/1 F Norton |
8-7 | P W Chapple-Hyam | 3 |
| 3rd | (11) | 1¾ | Criteria (IRE) 7/1 William Buick |
8-7 | J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 4th | (9) | ¾ | Seal Of Approval 7/2f G Baker |
9-5 | J R Fanshawe | 5 |
| 5th | (3) | ¾ | Arabian Comet (IRE) 9/2 J Fanning |
8-7 | W J Haggas | 3 |
| 6th | (12) | 1½ | Moment In Time (IRE) 20/1 J P Spencer |
9-5 | D M Simcock | 5 |
| 7th | (13) | 2¼ | Sohar 80/1 T P Queally |
9-5 | J A R Toller | 6 |
| 8th | (14) | ½ | Cascading 33/1 R Havlin |
8-7 | H Morrison | 3 |
| 9th | (1) | 6 | Melrose Abbey (IRE) 8/1 S De Sousa |
8-7 | R M Beckett | 3 |
| 10th | (8) | 14 | Venus de Milo (IRE) 6/1 J P O'Brien |
9-5 | A P O'Brien | 4 |
| 11th | (2) | 1 | Dark Crusader (IRE) 33/1 F M Berry |
9-5 | A J Martin | 4 |
| 12th | (10) | 2¼ | Debdebdeb 33/1 David Probert |
9-5 | A M Balding | 4 |
| 13th | (7) | ½ | Energia Fox (BRZ) 14/1 Martin Harley |
9-1 | M Botti | 4 |
| NR | (5) | Island Remede | 8-7 | E A L Dunlop | 3 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2013 The Lark Michael Bell Jamie Spencer Lady Bamford 15/ fav
2012 Wild Coco Sir Henry Cecil Tom Queally Gest ut Rottgen 7/4 fav
2011 Meeznah David Lanigan Frankie Dettori Saif Ali & Saeed Altayer 5/2
2010 Eastern Aria Mark Johnston Frankie Dettori Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 5/1
2009 The Miniver Rose Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs Julie Wood 28/1
2008 Allegretto Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Cheveley Park Stud 7/4 fav
2007 Hi Calypso Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Philip Newton 9/2
2006 Rising Cross John Best Martin Dwyer Gary Tanaka 16/1
2005 Sweet Stream John Hammond FR Thierry Gillet Team Valor 7/2 fav
2004 Echoes In Eternity Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 5/1
2003 Discreet Brief John Dunlop Pat Eddery Sonia Rogers 8/1
2002 Alexander Three D Barry Hills Michael Hills Miriam O'Callaghan 7/4 fav
2001 Ranin Ed Dunlop Willie Supple Hamdan Al Maktoum 5/1
2000 Miletrian Mick Channon Craig Williams Miletrian Plc 10/1
1999 Mistle Song Clive Brittain Richard Quinn Saeed Manana 8/1
