Saturday may have been a bonanza for Godolphin, but Frankie Dettori's kiss for Swain after the Esat-Digifone Irish Champion Stakes was heartfelt. "You've saved my day," the little Italian grinned at the Mr Consistent of European racing, who will retire to stud in Lexington at the end of the season. Before that is the Breeders Cup Turf, but in terms of stallion credibility, Saturday's win was all-important.
"After talking to Sheikh Mohammed we decided it was in the best interests of Swain for me to be here," Dettori said, aware that he had lost out on another English Leger with Nedawi but yet to find out that Daylami would trounce his opposition in Belmont's Man O' War Stakes later in the evening.
"It was very important for Swain to win a top race over 10 furlongs and let people know that he is a great champion. It's a shame there was a clash, because the whole world wants to see this race," Dettori added.
Once Swain had taken over in the lead from his pacemaker Happy Valentine there was little doubt about the sixyear-old dual King George winner proving how good he is.
The filly Alborada was the one that kept the closest tabs on Swain throughout, but she never looked like putting in a sustained challenge, and Dettori was easing the winner up to allow her get within a length at the line.
"My filly has run a marvellous race but the winner is a grand horse who was just lobbing along and then eased off," said Alborada's trainer, Sir Mark Prescott. "Her heart's in the right place and the Champion Stakes at Newmarket looks like being her next race. At least Swain won't be there." Saturday's third and fourth, Xaar and One So Wonderful, could meet Alborada again at Newmarket however.
Xaar, last season's top juvenile, ran on strongly towards the end and trainer Andre Fabre commented: "He stayed on but didn't quicken and was beaten by a better horse. The Champion Stakes, the Breeders Cup and the Arc, unless the ground is bottomless, are possibles for Xaar."
Luca Cumani also mentioned the Champion Stakes for One So Wonderful, but soft ground there may not be suitable, as Pat Eddery said on Saturday: "She was not happy on the ground and was switching leads all the way around."
Shahtoush finished last of the eight runners and Aidan O'Brien said the Oaks winner is likely to be retired. "She did us proud at Epsom," he said.
Saturday was all about Swain, however, and the horse seems to be getting better with age.
"Early in the season he was disappointing, but he is six now and needs time to get his muscles going," laughed Dettori. "We wanted to make it a real man's race for him today and he only began to race properly at the three furlong pole. A furlong later and he thought he had done enough, and he had."
Tedburrow cannot get the chance to prove himself in Group One company in France's Prix de l'Abbaye because he is lacking the necessary stallion equipment, but he gave Lancashire trainer Eric Alston his first Irish winner when landing the Group Three Flying Five.
"I trained Stack Rock to be second to Tropical in this race five years ago, and this horse's half brother, Bowcliffe, has just won at Doncaster, so this is a great day," said Alston. "I would love to go to France with him but he's a gelding and can't run. The Ayr Gold Cup could be out too because of the penalty for this win." Tedburrow was completing a quick double for Willie Supple who had earlier helped Kevin Prendergast's Henry Joy bring off a gamble in some style. Supple delivered the gelding at the furlong pole to sweep by General Cloney and win by three-and-a-half lengths.
She's Our Mare completed an unusual double for trainer Tony Martin in the Maxwell Handicap as his Rahinane Melody had earlier won a hurdle race at Bangor. Seamus Heffernan rode the well-backed winner to an easy success, but had to settle for second in the Talbot Race as Yuan had no reply to the late surge of Willie Mullins' Balla Sola.
