Godolphin’s Certify justified 4-6 favoritism in Friday’s Group 2 May Hill
Stakes for juvenile fillies at Doncaster, just getting up to edge Purr Along by
a head to remain unbeaten. The pair came eight lengths clear of third-placer
Light Up My Life.
Trainer Mahmood al Zarooni was particularly pleased with Certify’s effort,
given the way the one-mile race was run.
“They went a bit of a slow pace which usually suits the one in front and
makes it difficult for the ones coming from behind and closing, so I am really
pleased with her and her attitude,” he summed up.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin racing manager, echoed al Zarooni’s sentiments.
“It ended up as a three-furlong sprint, which worked against her,” he said,
“and she had to battle but (jockey) Mickael (Barzalona) said she was really
tough and honest in the finish.”
The daughter of Elusive Quality will step up next time to Group 1 level,
either the Shadwell Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket September 28 or the Prix Marcel
Boussac at Longchamp October 7.
“The first choice would be Newmarket,” al Zarooni said, “but we will see how
she recovers and if she needs more time we will wait for France.”
Certify, now a best-priced 16-1 with Ladbrokes for next year’s Group 1 One
Thousand Guineas, is now three-for-three. Last time out, she took the Group 3
Sweet Solera at Newmarket, beating subsequent Group 1 Moyglare Stud heroine Sky
Lantern.
“She is a really nice filly,” al Zarooni said of Certify, “very relaxed and
professional. She has become special in her way of going at home — there was a
change after she won for the first time. She began to develop confidence and to
trust in herself and her ability.”
Godolphin has now won three straight runnings of the May Hill. Lyric of Light
scored last year for al Zarooni, after Saeed Bin Suroor-trained White Moonstone
in 2010.
Lyric of Light went on to win the Shadwell Fillies’ Mile, but flopped in this
year’s Guineas and has not been seen since.
“It is difficult to compare the two,” al Zarooni said, “as at the moment
Certify has done the same as the other one and has yet to win a Group 1. But let
us hope she turns out better.”
Trainer William Muir was understandably pleased but also frustrated after
16-1 chance Purr Along went down by a head after a sustained duel with Certify.
“We came here to win,” Muir said. “We have always known she was a good filly
and it was only because she was trained by William Muir that she was 16-1 today.
“What I have always said is that whatever this filly does this year is a
bonus because she is not a two-year-old — she is all about next year.
“We are competing in the big world with this filly. If she tells me, she
could maybe have another run this year either in the Rockfel (Group 2 October
13) or the Prix Marcel Boussac. I listen to what the horses tell me.”
Andrew Tinkler, CEO Friday’s headline sponsor the Stobart Group, enjoyed the
perfect start to the day when Sir Prancealot carried his colors to victory in
the five-furlong Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes.
Partnered by Johnny Murtagh, the Richard Hannon-trained juvenile looked to
have it all to do entering the final furlong, but came with a great run to get
up and deny Bungle Inthejungle by a half-length. He was returned the 7-4
favorite.
“The horse deserved it,” assistant trainer Richard Hannon Jr. said. “He has
twice taken on Reckless Abandon this year. He ran well at Royal Ascot and then
again in the (Group 1 Prix) Morny at Deauville, when he just got tired near the
line.
“He gets six furlongs and we will now look at the (Group 1) Middle Park
Stakes at Newmarket for him. The timing of that race (October 13) is just right.
“This horse is thoroughly consistent, has a great attitude and is a gentleman
to deal with. We came here and dropped down in trip so that we could win a Group
race and I am very pleased. It’s also nice for his owner Mr. Tinkler, who also
has Dubawi Gold with us.
“I think the horse may get seven furlongs in time but for now I think his
future is over six.”
“He is a very professional two-year-old,” Murtagh said. “He’s fast, they went
a good pace, he settled well, quickened up and hit the line well. Hopefully, an
extra furlong won’t bother him.
“He is very natural — he was quick out of the gates and he relaxed well
today, which was good. I think that he might even improve for that run. He is
starting to learn how to race now.
“It’s hard going for two-year-olds in the head-on wind, but this lad didn’t
seem to mind. Like all of Richard Hannon’s, nothing seems to faze them.
“The ground has dried out a lot from yesterday. It’s good ground now, maybe
on the slow side of good, but it was good to soft yesterday so it has dried out
a bit.”
Aspirations are high for Bungle Inthejungle, caught close home by Sir
Prancealot in the Flying Childers.
“He’s run a stormer,” said trainer Mick Channon’s son and assistant Michael.
“He’s done it the hard way, gone out like a rocket in front. All the others
tried to pick him off and only one could. He is just so quick.
“He’s a serious prospect for next year. He’s such a big scopey horse, he’s
bound to strengthen from two to three and again from three to four, and is going
to give us a lot of fun in the future in the big sprints and take us to some
great places.
“He’s entered in the Abbaye (Group 1 October 7 at Longchamp) and if the
ground was not soft, he could take his chance against the older horses. He’s
already got the frame of a three-year-old.”
Frankel, the world’s best racehorse, won the seven-furlong conditions race
for juveniles two years ago at this meeting, and on Friday, it was another
Khalid Abdulla homebred, Ashdan, that took the spoils. The two-year-old Dansili
colt has now won both his starts, having scored on debut at Newmarket last
month.
Partnered by William Buick, Ashdan took a while to find his stride but once
he was settled he ran on well to defeat No Jet Lag by a comfortable 1 1/2
lengths. He was returned the 4-5 favorite.
“I ran a filly who was 10 lengths second to Frankel in this race two years
ago,” trainer John Gosden recalled. “In fact, we were second to Frankel on both
his first two starts so we decided to give up then!
“This horse just got the wind up his backside today going down to the start
and took off. He hasn’t done that before at home so I think it is probably the
wind that has done it.
“He was just a bit keen in the race and didn’t have any cover,. He is still a
young horse with a lot to learn but he has won nicely in the end.
“He is well-entered up for the rest of the season, including in the Racing
Post Trophy (Group 1 October 27) back here, which is a race we could look at.”
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