RACING:GODOLPHIN BROKE back into the Royal Ascot spotlight as Rewilding hunted down the Australian giant So You Think in a captivating Prince of Wales's Stakes yesterday. With two easy victories in Ireland since his transfer to Aidan O'Brien, this was billed as the day of reckoning for So You Think and at the home bend he was poised to justify his position as the 4 to 11 favourite.
But in a scenario reminiscent of races a decade ago when Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin and the O’Brien-Coolmore team regularly staged head-to-head clashes through the likes of Fantastic Light and Galileo, there was to be a stunning conclusion.
Ryan Moore’s authoritative move past the pacemaker Jan Vermeer began to tell and Frankie Dettori was in full pursuit, gradually making up around three lengths in the last couple of furlongs and nudging a neck in front on the line.
“That was probably the best fight I’ve been in for a while – the two horses wanted to win and they are two great champions,” said Dettori, whose usual excitement at a big-race win seemed heightened, but tempered as the stewards ruled he had hit Rewilding 24 times inside the final two furlongs and banned him for nine days.
“My fellow has not had the credit and he showed what he’s made of. He showed what a fighter he is. I’ve only got three days here this year (due to suspension) and the Prince of Wales’s is one of the great races of the year. To win again is a thrill, and I’m overwhelmed.
“It was sheer joy to be in the race. They are two great teams (Ballydoyle and Godolphin) and we put our life and soul into the job and into the sport. So You Think didn’t go down without a fight and it was one of the epic Royal Ascot races we’ll remember for a long time.”
Dettori was already banned for the last two days of the Royal meeting after picking up a 10-day suspension in the Oaks, and this latest ban, for using his whip with excessive frequency, means he misses the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 2nd and the first day of Newmarket’s July meeting.
So You Think collected a slew of major races in Australia and much had been made of the comments his former trainer Bart Cummings, perhaps not in all seriousness, uttered about the lower standard of European racing.
Rewilding was backed into 17 to 2 from an opening 12 to 1 and he is now a winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Great Voltigeur Stakes as well as a third place in last year’s Derby.
Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford explained: “He needs to be very fresh – after the Voltigeur he ran no race in the St Leger. The race went perfectly as there was plenty of pace and Frankie let him get into a rhythm.
“We’ll have to talk to Sheikh Mohammed, but you’d look to be coming back here for the King George. There are lots of options for later, including the Champion Stakes.”
O’Brien was notably candid about So You Think, admitting: “I will take responsibility for this personally. After he won his first two races so easily I had gone easy on him. He ran keen for the first two furlongs with Ryan and it was a strong-run race. He went and won his race but just got very tired in the last half a furlong.
“Frankie gave his horse a beautiful ride, on a horse that stays a mile and a half well, he just came and got him in the last 50 yards.
“I think it was trainer error, I didn’t have him fit enough for this kind of race and he’s given a good blow afterwards. I would think there’s improvement to come. Something like the Eclipse is a definite possible but like always we hadn’t looked beyond today.”
Moore added: “He was a bit gassy for the first two furlongs and when I asked him to pick up, he didn’t quite pick up as I expected.”
Sri Putra finished third, six lengths behind, but just ahead of the second-favourite Planteur.
Lolly For Dolly is to go for Group One glory after living up to her name in the Windsor Forest Stakes. The four-year-old filly won for the first time in Group Two company with a solid performance as she shrugged the opposition aside.
Equipped with blinkers as she has been all season, the 11 to 1 shot pulled away in the final furlong to beat Chachamaidee by a length and a half, with First City third in a race in which the fancied pair Sajjhaa (fourth) and Seta (eighth) faded in the final furlong after holding every chance.
“We put the blinkers on to help her concentrate as she’s quite idle,” said trainer Tommy Stack’s son and assistant, Fozzy. “We’ll put her out in a field on Thursday or Friday when she gets back home. We’ll give her a break and train her for the Matron Stakes. That’s her main autumn target.
“She takes a lot of getting ready so she’ll have a prep race in something like the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown or a race at Tipperary.”
There was a sting in the tail for jockey Wayne Lordan as he was banned for four days (June 29th to July 2nd inclusive) for using his whip in an incorrect position.
