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1 Kessaar 100/30
2
True Mason 4/1
3 Shine So Bright 3/1F
7 ran NR: Marhaba Milliar, Marie's Diamond
Distances: 2¾l, 2¼l, 3½l Time: 1m 14.23s (slow by 4.23s)
The day’s most prestigious Pattern race has proved a springboard for future stars Ribchester (2015) and Harry Angel (2016) in recent years, and this year’s winner Kessaar also looks to have a bright future following a decisive victory.
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The John Gosden-trained colt led for virtually all of the six-furlong contest for two-year-olds and found plenty for Frankie Dettori after being briefly headed by True Mason (Karl Burke/Ben Curtis) entering the final furlong to score by two and three-quarter lengths.
Kessaar had previously captured the G3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton Park and a step up to G1 level now beckons for the son of Kodiac in the Criterium International at Longchamp, France, on October 28.
Gosden, winning the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes for the first time, said: “We didn’t know if Kessaar would handle the soft ground today, but it won’t worry us again.
“The Criterium International used to be a mile but they’ve dropped it to seven furlongs and we are all going to Paris.”
Dettori added: “We knew Kessaar handled soft, but weren’t sure about this. He showed good courage too, as the other one passed me. He finished the race and isn’t just a six-furlong horse.”
Burke has his eye on Ascot’s G3 Cornwallis Stakes for the runner-up and said: “True Mason a high-class colt and he loves that ground. He just got outstayed by a better stayer on the day.
“Ben thought it was a matter of how far, and so did I, but he just couldn’t get away from Kessaar and then in the last half furlong he’s gone away from us.
“I was thinking of the Middle Park if he won, but the Cornwallis looks the ideal race for him now. It would be nice to win a Group race before we put him away.
Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2)
£75,000 added, 2yo only, 6f 8y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (2) | Kessaar (IRE) 10/3 | L Dettori 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 2 | |
| 2nd | (9) | 2¾ | True Mason 4/1 | Ben Curtis 9-1 |
K R Burke | 2 |
| 3rd | (8) | 2¼ | Shine So Bright 3/1f | Oisin Murphy 9-1 |
A M Balding | 2 |
| 4th | (7) | 3½ | Garrus (IRE) 8/1 | Jim Crowley 9-1 |
J Noseda | 2 |
| 5th | (4) | 2 | Don Armado (IRE) 33/1 | Harry Bentley 9-1 |
S C Williams | 2 |
| 6th | (3) | 6 | Konchek 15/2 | G Mosse 9-1 |
C G Cox | 2 |
| 7th | (1) | 6 | The Irish Rover (IRE) 4/1 | R L Moore 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| NR | (6) | Marhaba Milliar (IRE) | Non Runner 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 2 | |
| NR | (5) | Marie's Diamond (IRE) | Non Runner 9-1 |
M Johnston | 2 |
