Certify, Sir Prancealot get up in time

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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