Dubai: Godolphin's Shakespearean made amends for stable companion Kite Wood's lacklustre performance at Newbury yesterday by employing smart front-running tactics to win the Group Two CGA Hungerford Stakes.
The three-year-old Shamardal colt made every post in the seven furlong contest a winning one to hand Godolphin's its seventh Group 2 victory of the season.
Although Kevin Manning attempted to throw down a challenge his mount had nothing to offer as Frankie Dettori pulled away on Shakespearean to win by a length and a half.
The 5/2 favourite Ouqba, ridden by Richard Hills for his father trainer Barry Hills, finished half a length back in third
Dettori completed an 11-1 double having earlier won the Matalan Stakes with the Godolphin juvenile Janood.
Kite Wood was the only disappointment for the Dubai-owned stable, finishing sixth behind San Frontieres in the Group Three Cga Geoffrey Free Stakes, a race that he had won 12 months ago.
However, Godolphin, who had runners at five different racecourses in the UK including Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Newbury, Newmarket and Ripon, ended the day with five winners.
Trainer Saeed Bin Surour, who saddled Shakespearean and Janood at Newbury, also scored with Signs in the Sand and Dafeef at Newmarket while his Godolphin colleague Mahmood Al Zarooni won at Doncaster with Blue Bunting.
Dettori delight
Speaking to Channel 4 Racing after Shakespearean's success a delighted Dettori said: "When I went through the form there didn't seem to be a genuine front runner, so I was able to dominate the race.
"Even so, you have to have the legs to get to the line."
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "The ground suited him and it was a good effort.
"Ascot might have come a bit quick for him after his run at Epsom the time before. We'll look out for some plans later on."
Janood was following in the footsteps of some great Godolphin winners of the Matalan Stakes, a Listed race which is registered as the Washington Singer Stakes, including the 1995 Epsom Derby winner Lammtarra.
Bin Surour commented: "His last piece of work showed he had improved a lot for his first run. He liked the ground and we'll look for a Group race now.
Racing odds
2000 guineas
Zoffany (10) , Strong Suit (12) , Glor Na Mara (16) , Peter Martins (16) , Dunboyne Express (20) , King Torus (20) , Libranno (20) , Saamidd ( 20) , Janood (25), Head Space (25) , Helleborine (25) , Elzaam (33) , Frankel (33) , General Synod (33) , Native Khan (33) , Neebras (33) , Pathfork (33) , Samuel Morse (33) , Treasury Devil (33) , Casual Glimpse (40) , Belgian Bill (50) - Others 50 or more
