Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes |
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| Group 2, Newmarket 14:25 £90,000 added, 2yo Fillies only, 6f, Class 1  |
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1 Sandrine 11/5F
2 Desert Dreamer 11/2
3
Hello You 9/4
8 ran NR: Shouldavbeenmore Distances: 1¾l, ½l, 2¼l
Time: 1m 10.65s (slow by 0.35s)
💪 Emphatic!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) July 9, 2021
👏 Sandrine backs up her Royal Ascot success with a dominant performance in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at @NewmarketRace for @AndrewBalding2 and @davidprobert9!pic.twitter.com/UJ0GUEyJf8
Andrew Balding’s Sandrine caused something of a surprise when winning the Albany Stakes at 16-1 last month on soft ground – but she was even more impressive on this occasion on a quicker surface.
In taking her career record to three from three, Sandrine was given quotes around the 16-1 mark for next year’s 1000 Guineas – with Coral making her their 14-1 favourite.
Like at Ascot ridden by David Probert, the daughter of Bobby’s Kitten raced on the far side group, tracking Ellade on Hello You.
When the field bunched up with just over a furlong to go, Sandrine quickly shot clear and put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
Desert Dreamer made up plenty of ground from the rear to chase her home, but was beaten a length and three-quarters by the 11-5 favourite. Hello You was third, having been second to the winner at Ascot.
Balding said: “That was very good. She got a little bit lonely in front, I think, but she’s got a lot of ability, which is exciting.
“She’s so relaxed, which I hope bodes well for her chances of staying a mile next year.
“She’s got physical scope – she’s not a compact, two-year-old type. She’s got a bit more length and depth to her, I think. Hopefully she’ll make up into a nice three-year-old.
“It’s good she’s proved Royal Ascot wasn’t a fluke. There was a little bit of nerves going into this as she’d looked so good at Ascot and it’s nice to see that confirmed on different going today.”
Asked about future plans for the Kirsten Rausing-owned winner, Balding said: “We’ve loosely discussed it. I don’t really want to travel her at this stage and the only Group One options are in France and Ireland.
“I think we’ll just have to sit it out, give her a little break and try to gear her up for the Cheveley Park.”
Probert said: “She had to prove herself on that quick ground today, but she travelled great, she’s got a great temperament and was in a great rhythm throughout the race.
“When we split away from the main pack, I was lucky enough to be able to follow the Ralph Beckett filly (Hello You) through into the race – and when the pace lifted, she’s done it with such ease and found many lengths.
“She hit the rising ground really well and galloped out. It took me a while to pull her up, so it’s not out of the question that she could stay further.
“She’s very exciting. I haven’t had a Group One winner in this country yet – hopefully she could be it.”
Of Desert Dreamer, trainer Stuart Williams said: “I’m very pleased with her. It was slightly unfortunate that the winner was on the other side of the track.
“If we could have followed the winner through we might have given it a better race, but the winner is a high-class filly and we are improving. I’m delighted with the filly and with Oisin’s (Murphy) ride. We live to fight another day.
“She has got a good turn of foot and she is settling very well, so I’m very pleased with her.”
He added: “I will probably head to the Lowther (at York) now, where the winner would have a penalty if she wanted to take us on again. I think that is probably the logical route.”
Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes
(Formerly The Cherry Hinton Stakes) (Fillies' Group 2)
£90,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm
1 (7) Sandrine 2 9-0 Andrew Balding David Probert 11/5F
2 (3) 1¾ Desert Dreamer 2 9-0 Stuart Williams Oisin Murphy 11/2
3 (8) ½ Hello You 2 9-0 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 9/4
4 (2) 17 Honey Sweet 2 9-0 K R Burke P J McDonald 50/1
5 (1) 2¼ Oscula 2 9-0 George Boughey Mark Crehan 15/2
6 (5) ½ Flotus 2 9-0 Simon & Ed Crisford Frankie Dettori 15/2
7 (4) 2½ Sadmah 2 9-0 Kevin Ryan Ryan Moore 16/1
8 (9) ½ Ellade 2 9-0 Mark Johnston James Doyle 66/1
NR 9 (6) Shouldavbeenmore 2 9-0 Richard Fahey NON RUNNER
