Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Atalanta Stakes |
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| Group 3, Sandown Park 13:45 £65,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 14y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 22nd August 2015 | |
1 Nakuti 12/1
2 Blond Me 6/1
3 Black Cherry 8/1
13 ran Distances: nk, ½l, nk
TIME 1m 40.62s (slow by 0.82s)
Ben Curtis made his first ride at Sandown a winning one when steering Nakuti to victory in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Atalanta Stakes.
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The Sylvester Kirk-trained filly produced a career-best effort to claim a narrow success in the mile Group Three contest.
Having worked her way to the front after being given a patient ride, the four-year-old was forced to pull out all the stops on the climb up to the line.
Course and distance winner Black Cherry looked set to lay it down to the eventual winner, but her effort just fell short and it was left to Blond Me to mount the last challenge.
Although Andrew Balding's three-year-old finished to good effect, it was not enough to catch Nakuti, with the 12-1 shot taking victory by a neck.
Kirk said: "They went fast early on and she had no chance with that, so she had to sit and wait. That ground must be a bit dead as she loved it and really toughed it out.
"She has improved and got bigger and stronger as she has got older. I am thankful the owner kept her in training as they were going to send her off to stud at the end of her three-year-old career.
"We might go over to France with her now to try and get a bit of that soft ground."
Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Atalanta Stakes
£65,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 14y, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Good (Good to Soft in places on the Sprint Course)
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (8) | Nakuti (IRE) 12/1 | B A Curtis 9-1 |
S Kirk | 4 | |
| 2nd | (9) | nk | Blond Me (IRE) 6/1 | David Probert 8-9 |
A M Balding | 3 |
| 3rd | (7) | ½ | Black Cherry 8/1 | P J Dobbs 8-9 |
R Hannon | 3 |
| 4th | (1) | nk | Montalcino (IRE) 8/1 | T P Queally 8-9 |
B J Meehan | 3 |
| 5th | (12) | 2 | Talmada (USA) 5/1j | Jack Mitchell 9-1 |
R Varian | 4 |
| 6th | (5) | ¾ | Angel Vision (IRE) 14/1 | T E Durcan 8-9 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 3 |
| 7th | (6) | 1½ | Bold Lass (IRE) 7/1 | G Baker 9-1 |
D R Lanigan | 4 |
| 8th | (2) | nse | Wiener Valkyrie 25/1 | Antonio Fresu 8-9 |
Ed Walker | 3 |
| 9th | (11) | 1¼ | Gratzie 40/1 | Charles Bishop 9-1 |
M R Channon | 4 |
| 10th | (3) | ½ | Roxy Star (IRE) 20/1 | Harry Bentley 8-9 |
W J Haggas | 3 |
| 11th | (13) | hd | Evita Peron 5/1j | J Fortune 9-1 |
R M Beckett | 4 |
| 12th | (10) | 6 | Lady Dutch 20/1 | M M Monaghan 9-1 |
M Botti | 4 |
| 13th | (4) | 2¾ | Molly Dolly (IRE) 16/1 | L Morris 8-9 |
Sir Mark Prescott | 3 |
