Sport

Ramonti delves deep

Goodwood Report: Frankie Dettori provided the resurgent Godolphin with a second Group One of the season on a splendid afternoon…

Thu Aug 02 2007 - 01:00

Goodwood Report:Frankie Dettori provided the resurgent Godolphin with a second Group One of the season on a splendid afternoon for the boys in blue at Glorious Goodwood. Ramonti had given Sheikh Mohammed's operation a sweet success at Royal Ascot - their first win at the top level in Britain for almost two years - and followed up in the BGC Sussex Stakes.

On an sun-drenched day which also signalled Godolphin's intent on next year's Classics with Rio de La Plata scoring in the Vintage Stakes, Ramonti delved deep into his reserves to hold Coolmore's Excellent Art by a head.

The ex-Italian runner stretched the field when kicking at the two-furlong marker in the mile race, and the 9 to 2 chance soon put daylight between himself and the chasing pack.

Only 15 to 8 favourite Excellent Art could make inroads, but he could not quite get on terms despite his tenacious effort, with the pair pulling a length and three-quarters clear of Jeremy, who edged South African star Asiatic Boy for third.

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Trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Dettori are no stranger to success in the Sussex having teamed up with Aljabr (1999) and Noverre (2001), and Ramonti made it three wins in the last nine runnings. Bin Suroor said: "It is great to see Ramonti win another Group One and our horses are flying at the moment. We are really pleased with them and I would be happy if he stays sound to run him in the QEII."

Excellent Art had provided Aidan O'Brien with a memorable afternoon when leading home a one-two-three in the St James's Palace Stakes and he narrowly failed to follow up.

O'Brien said: "We are delighted with him and he was getting there all the time. It was his first time pitched in against older horses and he's learned a lot. All the mile races are open to him."

Godolphin can finally look towards the Classics with genuine enthusiasm after Rio De La Plata stamped his authority on the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes.

Frankie Dettori surged into the lead with a couple of furlongs to run and he skipped right away, only having to be nudged along to hold off the running-on Aidan O'Brien-trained Lizard Island by two lengths.