Sport | Horse Racing
Godolphin make rousing start
Creachadoir gained reward for some consistent efforts at the top level when running out an impressive winner of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) at Newbury on Saturday.
- By Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor
- Published: 00:08 May 18, 2008
Dubai: Creachadoir gained reward for some consistent efforts at the top level when running out an impressive winner of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) at Newbury on Saturday.
Runner-up in the French and Irish 2,000 Guineas last spring before producing a below-par performance in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba in March, the four-year-old bounced back strongly to supply Godolphin with their first Group 1 victory of the season.
Sent off a 3-1 favourite Creachadoir collared pacemaker Rob Roy inside the final furlong and went on to dominate the 1,600 metre contest in the final stages. With big-race jockey Frankie Dettori in saddle the Godolphin horse was not extended to win by three-quarters of a length from Phoenix Tower while Tariq was a neck back in third.
Trainer Saeed bin Surour was over-the-moon to win the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes for the fourth time after Cape Cross (1998), Fly To The Stars (1999) and Aljabr (2000).
He told Gulf News from Newbury: "It's a great feeling to have won our first Group One race of the year with Creachadoir.
"The colt has improved from last year and is a stronger horse than last year. He needed the race on Dubai World Cup night.
"He showed a good turn of foot and has plenty of speed. I think a mile is the best trip for him and hopefully we will take him to Royal Ascot."
Dettori was equally delighted and said: "His form is rock-solid and he is a force to be reckoned with this year.
"They went a pretty even gallop and I had the box seat," he told the Godolphin website. "I managed to get some room at the two-furlong marker, I pressed go and he responded immediately.
"Creachadoir quickened well and was idling a bit in front. It is nice to have a big race in the bag already as it is a long season."
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