Dettori Doubles Up On Golden Girls

Smart Call, far side | Emma Berry

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Frankie Dettori mingled with some classy females from around the globe on Saturday morning when putting two top-flight winners through their paces ahead of big-race engagements in Newmarket in the coming weeks.

First up was the unbeaten Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), who is aiming to add the G1 Cheveley Park S. to her list of victories in a fortnight's time and has been stabled at the National Stud since returning triumphant from Deauville, where she won the G1 Darley Prix Morny on Aug. 21.

The Wesley Ward trainee was a picture of contentment as she strutted the pre-parade ring at the Rowley Mile racecourse while waiting for her two work mates from Robert Cowell's stable to arrive. With Dettori aboard Lady Aurelia, the trio headed two furlongs up Newmarket's straight turf track to give the juvenile filly a short, sharp burst and a taste of Newmarket's famous 'dip', which has been the undoing of many a horse over the years.

“I've been riding her every morning and she's settled in really well,” said Dettori, who was pleased with his mount's handling of the track's undulations. “We know how fast she is, we don't have to remind ourselves at home. I think Newmarket will suit her and if we can keep her in good nick she has a big shout.”

As he departed the racecourse, Dettori quipped, “It's from one champion to another.” Sure enough, half an hour later he was legged aboard South Africa's champion mare Smart Call (SAf) (Ideal World), the winner of three Grade 1 races in her home country. Most recently she posted back-to-back wins in the GI Maine Chance Farms Paddocks S. – a 'win and you're in' for the Breeders' Cup – and the GI J&B Met, both run at Kenilworth in January. Convoluted quarantine laws arising from the threat of African Horse Sickness mean that the 5-year-old has been in transit from South Africa since April, with a stint in quarantine in Mauritius to fulfil requirements.

Trainer Alec Laird and owner-breeder Jessica Slack of Mauritzfontein Stud will be hoping the effort is worthwhile and their prized mare certainly looked the part as she sheltered from a sudden rainstorm under the trees of the Al Bahathri gallop while waiting for her work partner from John Gosden's stable. That transpired to be Dick Doughtywylie (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who at the age of eight is now retired but was a listed winner in his day for his owner-breeder Rachel Hood. The statuesque gelding continues to play an important role as lead horse to a host of stars in the Gosden stable, with recent Classic winners Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {GB}) and Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) all having been tested behind him.

The pair breezed just short of a mile on the Polytrack of the Al Bahathri gallop in preparation for Smart Call's appearance in the G1 Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket on Oct. 1 before she embarks on her travels again, to Santa Anita for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

“She was a little rusty but that was her first serious piece of work since she's been here,” was Dettori's verdict as he left the gallops. “That will bring her on nicely and there's three weeks to go before the race which should be perfect.”

The morning work was given extra sparkle by Smart Call being preceded on the Al Bahathri by John Gosden's second lot, which included last season's Group 1 winners Jack Hobbs and Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), both of whom are nearing a return to action after suffering pelvic fractures earlier in the year.

Lord Lloyd-Webber's unbeaten G3 Musidora S. winner So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was also in action along with The Black Princess (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}). Both fillies hold entries for the QIPCO British Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes next month but So Mi Dar could be seen out next week in the Listed EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies' S. at Yarmouth on Sept. 14.

 

 

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