Sky Bet Atalanta Stakes
Group 3, Sandown 14:25
£85,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
1m, Class 1   
Saturday 31st August 2024

SureWIn

1 Tamfana 13/8F
2 Doha 100/30
3 Imperial Quarter 50/1
9 ran Distances: 2¾l, hd, nse
Time: 1m 41.49s (slow by 0.39s)

Dropping in both class and distance, Tamfana was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris over 12 furlongs. Despite her impressive form, including a one-length fourth in the 1000 Guineas and third in the Prix de Diane, she needed to prove her speed over a mile.

Jockey Oisin Murphy held her back as long as possible before she cruised up to the leader, Spiritual, and quickened away impressively. As the 13-8 favorite, she won by two and three-quarter lengths over Doha.

Trainer David Menuisier expressed his delight, noting that she performed as expected despite needing the run. He mentioned the pressure of winning at Group One level and highlighted her versatility, with entries in the Sun Chariot, Prix de l’Opera, and QEII.

He praised her strong personality and the challenges and rewards of training her, comparing her to Wonderful Tonight. Murphy added that she is very rideable and versatile, handling different ground conditions well. He acknowledged his mistake in the Grand Prix de Paris and thanked the connections for their faith in him. He noted that she was comfortable against speedy types over a mile.

Atalanta Stakes
£85,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (7)    Tamfana 3 9-0 David Menuisier Oisin Murphy 13/8F
2 (8) 2¾ Doha 4 9-6 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 100/30
3 (9) hd Imperial Quarter 4 9-6 Roger Varian Silvestre De Sousa 50/1
4 (3) nse Spiritual 3 9-0 John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark 12/1
5 (1) 2 Rolica 3 9-0 Jane Chapple-Hyam Callum Shepherd 20/1
6 (4) nk Bright Thunder 3 9-0 K R Burke Clifford Lee 25/1
7 (6) nse Naomi Lapaglia 4 9-6 Richard Spencer Rossa Ryan 10/1
8 (5) 1¾ Choisya 4 9-6 Simon & Ed Crisford William Buick 8/1
9 (2) ¾ Doom 4 9-6 William Haggas Tom Marquand 13/2