Woodbine wonders Dettori and Appleby dominate Grade Ones
Woodbine wonders Dettori: Charlie Appleby and Frankie Dettori extended their brilliant weekend at Woodbine as; Wild Beauty and Albahr scored a Grade One juvenile double.
Dettori added the clean sweep of top-level success on Sunday night in Canada for owners Godolphin; having also stormed to victory 24 hours earlier on Appleby’s Walton Street in the Canadian International at the same track.
The Newmarket trainer was also successful in America on Saturday; when Yibir booked a possible Breeders’ Cup Turf ticket with an emphatic success in the ‘win and; you’re in’ Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes.
Wild Beauty and Albahr were impressive too; both striking from well off the pace to win decisively in their respective races – the Natalma Stakes; and the Summer Stakes.
Wild Beauty was sent off the 7-5 favourite but did not begin well; squeezed out on exiting the stalls and soon slightly detached from the field; 10 lengths off the pace in last.
Woodbine wonders Dettori: Dettori began passing rivals mid-race, however; and then swept wide into the straight to hit the front; and surge clear for a two-and-a-quarter-length victory from Pizza Bianca.
As with Yibir, and then Albahr; Wild Beauty’s success puts her in line for an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup; at Del Mar – in her case; the Juvenile Fillies.
Both Dettori and Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam acknowledged early concerns after the far from ideal start – ;but any anxiety was short-lived.
Dettori said: “She just backed out of that pocket.
“Then for my luck, they went way too fast – and by the time we got to the quarter pole; it all just fell into my lap, and she picked up really well.”
Merriam added: “It was a bit of a worry.
“It seemed to me, when she broke on turns, she stumbled a bit.”
Albahr’s victory, little more than half-an-hour later; was Godolphin’s 350th at the top level worldwide – and puts him on course for next month’s Juvenile Turf.
He also settled at the back of the pack, although without the drama which had beset Wild Beauty; and he too then circled the field with a near replica performance to win as an odds-on favourite – again; by two and a quarter lengths from Grafton Street.
Dettori is keen on the Breeders’ Cup chances of both winners.
He said: “The filly’s tough – she’ll take everything at Del Mar, the tight turns.
“He’s got a tendency to go left as well; so he’ll be suited for Del Mar.
“For the filly, she needs more luck, because she wasn’t that fast with those (early on); but they were both great today, and have both earned their shots.”
Merriam later told godolphin.com: “Albahr has done it nicely; and it was a very similar race to Wild Beauty in the Natalma Stakes.
“They have gone hard up front, and Frankie has given the horse a great ride. He said he got a good trip, kicked on turning in and put good distance between them; so it was impressive.
“We came over hoping all three horses would be competitive, and they have shown that. The track here and the way the races are run have suited; so it has worked out well.
“Wild Beauty will go to Del Mar, and this race was a ‘Win and You’re In’ (as well; so Albahr has every reason to go to the Breeders’ Cup.
“The way he has run today, you would like to think he would go there with half a chance.”
Courtesy: Attheraces
