DFS Park Hill Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 15:05 £90,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 6f 132y, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 10th September 2015 | |
1 Gretchen 5/1
2 Melodious 12/1
3 Asyad 7/1
NR: Cape Castle (IRE), Desert Snow
11 ran Distances: nk, ½l, 1½l
TIME 3m 6.46s (slow by 2.46s)
Gretchen (Galileo) wins for John Gosden & owner/breeder Normandie Stud
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Gretchen produced a fine staying performance to land the Group Two DFS Park Hill Stakes by a neck at Doncaster this afternoon.
The 5/1 shot was given a peach of a ride by jockey Rab Havlin, who had to be at his strongest to wear down Melodious, who had led the field as they hit the furlong pole.
The pair eventually got the measure of Asyad, who finished a further half a length back in third, and battled all the way to the line, with the John Gosden-trained filly just getting her head in front where it mattered.
Philippa Cooper, whose Normandie Stud owns the filly, was quick to praise the hard work
"All credit has to go to John and the team at Clarehaven as he trained her half-brother, Samuel, to win the Doncaster Cup (in 2010). We thought she'd stay as her other half-brother, Duncan, won the Yorkshire Cup (in 2011) and the Irish St Leger (dead-heated with Jukebox Jury in 2011). What a family they have been," said Cooper.
"This is the man though (Gosden) - and what a team he has! Robert (Havlin) has given him a wonderful ride and has won me two Listed races already this season and now a Group Two.
"I started the stud in 1997 so we've been going exactly 18 years. I didn't set myself any goals and I remember in 2010 that a lot of people kept reminding me that I hadn't bred a Group winner but then they started coming. That's not what it's about though and you should always do something in life that you enjoy."
Gosden returned the compliment to his owner following the race.
"It's great when they come out of this stud and progress the way they do," said the trainer.
"She's out of this wonderful mare Delores who had produced Doncaster Cup winners and full marks to the team at Normandie Stud who foal them, rear them and look after them just for us to get all the glory.
"They are very meticulous at the stud. All their horses know exactly what to do and how to behave. Robert has given him a wonderful ride too - he's an integral part of the team at home, riding them out as well as riding them on the racecourse."
Herbert said: "She got a little tired and she is an older filly giving weight to the three-year-olds.
"I think the trip was fine. She has run a fantastic race. She is a filly with a beautiful pedigree and so it was lovely that she was able to be placed at Group Two level. Obviously, we would have liked to have won but she still ran a great race."
Herbert indicated the filly could possibly run again this season depending on the ground. He commented: "She likes this ground and does not enjoy ground which is too soft. We will see what Sir Michael Stoute says and see how she comes out of the race.
"We will decide whether she has one more race. If ground conditions stay right and we can find the right spot and run her, then we will give her one final run, then she will be off to the paddocks."
DFS Park Hill Stakes
£90,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 6f 132y, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (13) | Gretchen 5/1 | R Havlin 8-7 |
J H M Gosden | 3 | |
| 2nd | (1) | nk | Melodious 12/1 | S De Sousa 8-7 |
D R C Elsworth | 3 |
| 3rd | (7) | ½ | Asyad (IRE) 7/1 | L Dettori 9-5 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 4 |
| 4th | (11) | 1½ | Toe The Line (IRE) 10/1 | F M Berry 9-5 |
J E Kiely | 6 |
| 5th | (6) | 1¼ | Groovejet 33/1 | William Twiston-Davies 9-5 |
D Morris | 4 |
| 6th | (8) | nk | Koora 7/2j | J P Spencer 8-7 |
L M Cumani | 3 |
| 7th | (2) | 2¼ | Mill Springs 33/1 | F Norton 8-7 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 8th | (3) | s.h | Arabian Comet (IRE) 8/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-5 |
W J Haggas | 4 |
| 9th | (5) | 2¼ | Hidden Gold (IRE) 7/2j | James Doyle 9-5 |
S bin Suroor | 4 |
| 10th | (10) | hd | Vive Ma Fille (GER) 14/1 | J Fanning 8-7 |
M Johnston | 3 |
| 11th | (12) | 3½ | Island Remede 50/1 | P Hanagan 9-5 |
E A L Dunlop | 4 |
| NR | (4) | Cape Castle (IRE) 50/1 | Non Runner 9-5 |
C E Brittain | 4 | |
| NR | (9) | Desert Snow 14/1 | Non Runner 9-5 |
S bin Suroor | 4 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2014 Silk Sari Luca Cumani Andrea Atzeni Fittocks Stud 8/1
2013 The Lark Michael Bell Jamie Spencer Lady Bamford 15/8 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
