bet365 May Hill Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 15:45 £60,000 added, 2yo fillies only, 1m, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 10th September 2020 | |
1 Indigo Girl 100/30
2
Dubai Fountain 17/2
3
Zabeel Queen 6/5F
9 ran Distances: ¾l, 1l, nk
Time: 1m 38.84s (slow by 2.84s)
Green as grass but very talented! Indigo Girl impressively wins the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at @DoncasterRaces for @FrankieDettori and John Gosden… pic.twitter.com/Mg6QPu8AZM
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 10, 2020
John Gosden’s Indigo Girl had won her only previous start at Yarmouth and was sent off a 100-30 chance in what looked a strong Group Two.
The Clarehaven handler was winning the race for a fifth time, having last prevailed with Rainbow View in 2008 in the same George Strawbridge silks.
A sister to the Group One winner Journey, Indigo Girl broke awkwardly from the stalls which meant she was at the back of the field early.
However, she made eyecatching progress up the stands side with three furlongs to run and was soon challenging Dubai Fountain for the lead.
Her lack of experience told as she then jinked to her left, while favourite Zabeel Queen on the far side was also running off a straight line.
However, once Frankie Dettori was able to get her straightened up to a certain degree, the daughter of Dubawi went on to win by three-quarters of a length from Dubai Fountain, with Zabeel Queen a length away in third.
It was a quick double for Gosden and Dettori after Logician’s stroll earlier on the card and the winner was introduced into the 1000 Guineas betting at 20-1 by Coral .
Gosden said: “She did it very smoothly at Yarmouth and she’s been in great form since. The race didn’t knock her back a bit – it was rather like a piece of work.
“If we’d gone for another novice race, she would have had to lump a lot of weight and I don’t like doing that with two-year-olds. You can end up giving 7lb to a Group horse and you don’t know it.
“The May Hill is a beautiful race over the straight mile. The track is in beautiful nick and I thought we’d bring her here and see if we could nick a bit of black type.
“She relaxed beautifully, which is key, and smoothly came through. I admit when she hit the front she ran around, but that’s the trainer’s fault because when I work them at home, I don’t like them bursting clear and breaking another one’s heart.
“She’s obviously got a lot of talent. As long as she continues to enjoy her racing,she can move upward.”
Considering future targets, the trainer added: “There are two options this year – the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Fillies’ Mile. We could look at either of those or wait until next year, we’ll just have to see at this stage.
“Her mother (Montare) won a Prix Royal-Oak and her full-sister (Journey) won the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot over a mile and a half. Funnily enough, I see this one as more of a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter filly.
“She travels strong and has a great turn of foot.”
Dettori said: “I rode Journey (her sister) and she’s the same type – not over-big, but she’s got loads of gears. It’s my first time on her.
“She travelled smoothly, quickened well, ran a bit green and went left and right, but it’s only her second start so you can excuse her for that.
“She’s from a talented family. Everything is in the right place and I really like her.
“She seems easier to handle than her siblings. She’s got a good future and is two from two and a Group Two (winner). Fingers crossed she can go all the way.”
bet365 May Hill Stakes
(Fillies' Group 2) (Str)
£60,000 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good
1 (9) Indigo Girl 2 9-0 John Gosden Frankie Dettori 100/30
2 (7) ¾ Dubai Fountain 2 9-0 Mark Johnston P J McDonald 7/2
3 (1) 1 Zabeel Queen 2 9-0 Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni 6/5F
4 (3) nk Lilac Road 2 9-0 William Haggas Tom Marquand 10/1
5 (4) 2¼ Star Of Emaraaty 2 9-0 Kevin Ryan Kevin Stott 12/1
6 (5) 2¼ Prado 2 9-0 Charles Hills Jim Crowley 25/1
7 (2) 2 Great Vibes 2 9-0 George Scott Callum Shepherd 28/1
8 (6) 1 Mere Green 2 9-0 Richard Fahey David Nolan 125/1
9 (8) 6 Ubuntu 2 9-0 Joseph O'Brien William Buick 12/1
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2019 Powerful Breeze
2018 Fleeting
2017 Laurens
2016 Rich Legacy R M Beckett Oisin Murphy Qatar Racing Limited 3/1
2015 Turret Rocks Jim Bolger Kevin Manning Mrs June Judd 7/2
2014 Agnes Stewart E Lynam W J Lee Clipper Logistics Group Ltd 11/4
2013 Ihtimal Saeed bin Suroor S De Sousa Godolphin 11/10 fav
2012 Certify Mahmood Al Zarooni Mickael Barzalona Godolphin 4/6 fav
2011 Lyric Of Light Mahmood Al Zarooni Frankie Dettori Godolphin 9/1
2010 White Moonstone Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 8/11 fav
2009 Pollenator Richard Hannon Ryan Moore The Royal Ascot Racing Club 14/1
2008 Rainbow View John Gosden Jimmy Fortune George Strawbridge 1/3 fav
2007 Spacious James Fanshawe Jamie Spencer Cheveley Park Stud 9/4 fav
2006 Simply Perfect Jeremy Noseda Darryll Holland Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier 4/1
2005 Nasheej Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Malih L Al Basti 4/1
2004 Playful Act John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Sangster Family 8/1
2003 Kinnaird Patrick Haslam Kevin Darley Alastair Dinsmore 9/1
2002 Summitville James Given Michael Fenton Mountain High Partnership 11/2
2001 Half Glance Henry Cecil Richard Quinn Khalid Abdullah 5/2
2000 Karasta Sir Michael Stoute Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 5/4 fav
1999 Teggiano Clive Brittain Frankie Dettori Abdullah Saeed Bul Hab 13/2
