SAHPRESA reigned supreme in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes yet again as the resilient French mare became the first to win the Newmarket Group One three times.
Although the distance, conditions and age restrictions have been tinkered with over the years, this was still a substantial achievement by trainer Rod Collet and his stable star, who was exceeding Free Guest’s two titles from the mid-80s in a race which generally favours the Classic generation.
Sahpresa and Collet were both virtual unknowns when she opened her account here at 16-1 in 2009 but she has become a familiar sight from regular trips across the water and went off the 13-8 favourite.
Christophe Lemaire was criticised for leaving it too late when second in the Falmouth Stakes during the summer, but he has since steered her to placed efforts in two strong French Group Ones.
Perfectly settled in a prominent position, she made it a hat-trick without much fuss, keeping a comfortable length between herself and Chachamaidee.
“Well done to Sahpresa,” said Collet.
“It’s not me – it’s all down to her.
“We learned from the Falmouth, which was a joke race, and Christophe changed our strategy a little bit.
“The pressure has increased. Two years ago we were one of the outsiders, last year we were third or fourth favourite, and this year we were the favourite.”
He went on: “Her former owner and breeder Douglas McIntyre died a few days ago at the age of 92.
“He was one of my first owners and this filly was the dream of his life and of my life.
“We’re going to keep it the same and go for the Mile Championship in Kyoto because the owner is Japanese and she will also have an entry in the Hong Kong Mile.
“It’s too soon to discuss if she stays in training.”
Solving the riddle of the 32-runner Betfred Cambridgeshire was always going to be a rather more difficult task and not too many on the Rowley Mile were cheering home 40-1 skinner Prince Of Johanne.
In a race full of hard-luck stories, Tom Tate’s charge was smuggled safely along the stands rail under apprentice John Fahy.
“What a way to get off the cold list,” said Tate, who had not sent out a winner for 71 days.
“I was thinking the handicapper may have got to grips with him but he’s always very consistent and has run nothing but good races – he needs fast ground.
“It’s a great day. I could tell you I’d laid him out for this all season but it wouldn’t be true.”
Last year’s Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes was one of the steps taken by Frankel en-route to stardom but this renewal saw Aidan O’Brien secure a one-two-three.
The quirkily-named Daddy Long Legs (11-4) was the undoubted star, dominating from the front under Colm O’Donoghue to finish a healthy three and a quarter lengths in front of Tenth Star and Wrote.
“They’re three young colts and they all ran nice races,” said O’Brien.
“Daddy Long Legs was very green in Doncaster but he liked the fast ground and we’re delighted.
“We were just discussing things and everything is open. You would have to look at the Racing Post Trophy and Derrick (Smith, co-owner) said the Breeders’ Cup could be a possible.
“He has an American pedigree, although nothing has been decided yet.
“The other two would be possibles for all those races.”
CHRIS WRIGHT’S NAP: Rastaban (4.20pm Ffos Las).
