Norfolk Stakes
Group 2, Ascot 14:30 £80,000 added, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
Thursday 19th June 2014

1 Baitha Alga 8/1
2 Mind Of Madness 14/1
3 Ahlan Emarati 25/1
9 ran Distances: 1½l, 2¼l, ¾l
TIME 59.81s (slow by 0.31s)

Baitha Alga is victorious in the opener on Ladies' Day in the Norfolk Stakes.

"I had the race sewn up by 2f out....sometimes I can use my brain!" says Frankie before his trademark flying dismount.

Baitha Alga
© Racehorse Photos

Frankie Dettori was in joyous mood after winning the Group Two Norfolk Stakes on Baitha Alga, his 49th success at Royal Ascot.

"I'm nearly there!" exclaimed Dettori. "I really like this horse, but I was worried because I'd heard Aidan O'Brien's horse [unplaced 5/6 favourite The Great War] was the best in his yard and there was the American filly [To Be Determined] to worry about, but I knew they all had me to beat.

"It was a great performance to win like he did at Epsom, he's hard as nails and uncomplicated - everything you want in a two-year-old. I just had to do the right thing, get into the race and use his turn of foot.

"He can lead if he wants, but I knew that if I joined the mix he could burn himself out - when I pressed the button he just went. His attitude is fantastic which makes such a big difference.

"A 50 on Ladies' Day would be fantastic - I would love it!"

Trainer Richard Hannon was visibly delighted with the 8/1 shot, who was giving Frankie Dettori his 49th winner at the Royal Meeting, and was always travelling sweetly under the flamboyant Italian and the result was instant when his jockey asked him for his effort just over a furlong out.

The David Brown-trained Mind Of Madness eventually finished second with Ahlan Emarati a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Hannon rates him as 'the best two-year-old I've seen this season' and hopes that the juvenile will go on and contest the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville on his next start.

"This isn't a race we, as a firm, have had a great amount of success in but I knew this one was smart," said Hannon.

"He was having his third run in two weeks but this horse can handle it. He came back from the Woodcote (at Epsom) in tip-top shape and didn't lose any weight at all.

"He was very impressive. I saw Frankie sitting in behind, pull him out and he never really looked like getting beaten. He is a very smart two-year-old and we might have a look at the Prix Morny after this. To have an impressive Ascot winner like that is really nice."

Harry Herbert, racing manager to Al Shaqab Racing, was looking to the future after Baitha Alga gave Al Shaqab their second juvenile winner of the week following The Wow Signal's victory in the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday.

"It's not often the Woodcote winner comes out so quickly to win at Royal Ascot but this horse is special and is very tough," said Herbert.

"He's clearly very smart. Frankie has given him a wonderful ride and to see him sitting there with so much confidence a furlong from home was a great sight.

"Obviously The Wow Signal was impressive too on Tuesday so we'll let the dust settle and see where they go next. They're both tough two-year-olds and it's very exciting."

Mind Of Madness
© Racehorse Photos

Mind Of Madness ran for the second time at Royal Ascot 2014 in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes after finishing well beaten when 15th in Tuesday's Windsor Castle Stakes, also over five furlongs.

The two-year-old Azamour colt performed much better today under Ryan Moore, finishing second, a length and a half behind Baitha Alga.

Trainer David Brown said: "Ryan said he is a really nice horse and they went fast early on and for a few strides Mind Of Madness found it hard but once he picked the bridle up he was good. We can go for races like the July Stakes, which might come too soon, but maybe the Richmond or even the Gimcrack. I think he will want six furlongs. The Molecomb will probably be too fast.

"I have tried hard to envisage what happened the other day. I think I know the answer. We took him racing twice - to Newmarket and he went three hours before and had a brush-off. It was exactly the same the second time. He is such a kind little horse, you would put on anybody to ride as he is bombproof.

"But on Tuesday Jamie (Spencer) said he was keen going to post and would not settle. The only thing I can put my finger on is that we brought him the night before, thinking that would make it easy for him, rather than being stood in traffic. He got here and thought it was race time and he got himself revved up.

"In trying to give him an easy day, we probably made it hard for him. I led him out yesterday morning and he was a bit more settled but not enough. He has eaten up, not lost any weight and everything seemed in good order.

"I took him out this morning and he had a nice hack out and was just like he was at home. So he is now thinking Ascot is his home. So I have run him. Maybe we should run him just in today's Norfolk Stakes and he might have given the winner as bit more to do.

"I am sure he can win a big race. He is a very good colt."

Norfolk Stakes
£80,000 added, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Firm