BOOKMAKERS were forced into another hefty revision of 1000 Guineas odds as Imroz made a sparkling debut at Newmarket yesterday. Henry Cecil's filly was slashed to 14 to 1 second favourite (from 33s) by Coral for the Classic after her smooth victory in the Equity Financial Collections Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Just 24 hours earlier Dazzle had been installed 10 to 1 favourite by the same firm after her impressive success in the Cherry Hinton Stakes. William Hill, who cut Dazzle another point yesterday to make her 7 to 1 favourite, are more generous about Imroz, offering her at 20 to 1.
Imroz, the first foal of the Oaks runner-up All At Sea, was always travelling well in the hands of Pat Eddery. The 2 to 1 favourite quickened away smoothly from the furlong pole and at the line was two and a half lengths clear of Rihan.
Cecil clearly rates Imroz highly and he said: "She's a filly with a nice future although plans are undecided. She looks the type who will take after her sire Nureyev rather than her dam."
Freedom Flame put the seal on a fabulous week for her trainer Mark Johnston when seizing the Inflite Engineering Duke of Cambridge Handicap.
Johnston's success at the prestige July meeting follows Bijou D'Inde's smashing performance to finish second in the Eclipse Stakes and the news that leading stayer Double Trigger will be staying with the trainer.
Freedom Flame was rated highly last season but had exercised the patience of her trainer, having failed to score in three previous outings. But ridden by Michael Roberts yesterday, the filly swept to the front with a furlong to go and stayed on strongly to defeat Al Shafa by one length.
"We thought this filly was good last year and when she got beaten by Jack Jennings I was devastated," said Johnston.
Johnston is mulling over a multitude of options for Bijou d'Inde who proved he stayed 10 furlongs when finishing second to Halling in the Eclipse. "The horse is capable at a mile and we now have a load of possibilities for him. But we will probably aim him next at the Juddmonte Stakes at York," he said.
The trainer revealed that Double Trigger is progressing well from the foot injury that prevented his sale to Saudi Arabia.
Sheikh Mohammed, the owner of Freedom Flame and the Falmouth Stakes winner Sensation, went on to complete a 323 to 1 treble when Greenstead secured the More O'Ferrall PLC Stakes.
Cecil and Eddery completed a double when Benatom out-stayed Great Easeby in the Reg Day Memorial Handicap.
