Frankie’s still got it
While Shalaa stole the headlines with Frankie Dettori, Librisa Breeze put in a tremendous performance in the Challenge Cup as he weaved his way through the field to snatch victory
IT may be 20 years since his Magnificent Seven but Frankie Dettori proved once more he has lost none of his ability with a double at Ascot headlined by the returning Shalaa.
A dual Group One winner last season, Shalaa's connections have had to be patient this year as an injury picked up in the spring has kept him on the sidelines for the bulk of the campaign.
There is still the Champions Sprint back at Ascot in a fortnight to aim at though, and John Gosden believes victory in the Group Three John Guest Bengough Stakes should set him up perfectly.
Without resorting to the whip, Dettori guided the 7-4 favourite to a neck success over Mehronissa.
"The horse is just full of himself - and so is the jockey! It is nice for him (Dettori) to have a double (having earlier scored on Eternally) 20 years on. It is fantastic for him," said Gosden.
"It was a good prep, hands and heels, it was not our plan to do any more than that. I told him 'your stick is for holding - it is only for balance'."
Eternally (11-4 favourite) provided the first leg of Gosden and Dettori's double when winning the Totepool EBF Stallions Breeding Winners October Stakes in impressive style.
Gosden said: "She is a very nice filly. She won well at Lingfield and we freshened her a little bit and she has come good in the autumn.
"She is grand filly with a good stride and I told Frankie to ride it as you find it, and that is exactly what he did.
"I'm thrilled with her."
Move Up continued his progression for Saeed bin Suroor when outbattling Arab Spring in the Gigaset Cumberland Lodge Stakes.
Arab Spring looked to have the race in the bag only for Move Up to rally and win by a neck at odds of 5-1 for William Buick.
"He is a nice, progressive horse, who liked this soft ground. He has stepped up markedly on what he has achieved before and I think he will only improve," said Buick.
There was a notable first for Buick in the Ascot and CAMRA 10th Anniversary Rous Stakes as the Norwegian-born jockey rode his first winner on a Norwegian-trained horse.
Easy Road (9-2), trained by Cathrine Erichsen, made it two on the day for his rider, who again had to be at his brilliant best in a driving finish to repel Medicean Man and Mirza in a head-bobbing thriller.
Buick said:"It is actually my first winner for a Norwegian trainer - I've ridden winners for Swedish trainers but never Norwegian. I've known her since I was at school."
Connections had to drive two days with an overnight stop in Holland to run in the five-furlong event.
Erichsen said: "I think we will put him away and we would like to bring him back here next year. Our plan was to come for the Royal Hunt Cup, but I don't know what the handicapper will do to him now. Maybe we will find a nice Listed race for him."
Librisa Breeze swooped late and fast to lift the totescoop6 Challenge Cup for jockey Robert Winston and trainer Dean Ivory.
Sent off the 11-2 favourite, Librisa Breeze and Winston threaded the needle up the stands side, making up a tremendous amount of ground to score by half a length.
Ivory said: "I wouldn't want anyone else on him but Robert. He just sits and is cool, calm and collected. He believes in the horse and it is all about believing and knowing what you have in the horse."
Jamie Spencer was seen at his best producing Shamshon (5-1 favourite) to win the McGee Group Joining Jack Handicap right on the line for Jamie Osborne.
Spencer said: "I thought I had won when I hit the line, but the camera was on the other horse (Dutch Masterpiece), so I was a little bit concerned that I had not hit the line as well as I thought I had."
