Dettori jets in from Dubai to land treble at Newcastle

JET SETTING Frankie Dettori gave his championship hopes a lift as he notched a treble at Newcastle yesterday. The Italian ace showed no signs of weariness after returning on Sunday night from the abandoned World Cup meeting in Dubai, chalking up victories on Minersville, Stately Princess and Perfect Paradigm.

Seeking to grab back the crown that was wrested from him last year by Pat Eddery, Dettori almost made a mess of things in the opening race.

His mount Minersville (8 to 11) was left with plenty of ground to make up in the home straight as Tigrello poached a handy advantage in the National Fire Service Benevolent Fund Maiden Stakes.

Minersville, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, took time to respond to Dettori's urgings and it was only in the last 100 yards that he found a spurt to lead near the line for a head verdict.

The huge Bank Holiday crowd were then kept waiting before they were able to acclaim Dettori and his mount.

"The horse decided that he would rather watch the golfers and just planted himself after the race before he eventually decided to come back," said the Sheikh's representative, Paul Morrison.

Minersville had landed his trainer John Gosden and jockey Gary Hind in hot water after finishing third on his debut at Doncaster last season.

Gosden had been fined £600 and Hind suspended for being in breach of the non triers' rules.

But Morrison said: "Minersville is such a big horse he's hard to get fit. He also wouldn't find much off the bridle and it was just one of those things at Doncaster."

Perfect Paradigm, also owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained by Gosden, outstayed his rivals in the Jammy Dodger Maiden Stakes.

He was headed briefly in the straight by the favourite Dark Green but came back strongly on the far rail to take charge.

Stately Princess was a smooth winner of the Cap Heaton Maiden Fillies' Stakes despite surprisingly being deposed as favourite by Jack Berry's newcomer Antonia's Double.

She easily took care of Carambo the favourite was last and is likely to be aimed at the valuable Tallersalls Breeders Stakes at the Curragh at the end of the summer.

After several near misses Lynda Ramsden broke her duck on turf when Surprise Mission landed the Patterson Ford Magnificent Seven Handicap.

One time Derby favourite Dr Massini bounced back in style at Kempton yesterday. Michael Stoute's colt failed to fulfil his potential in a lameness affected three year old season in 1996.

But he served notice in the Listed Magnolia Stakes that he's angling to be a major player in this year's middle distance prizes.

Settled fourth of the five runners by John Reid as Prince Of My Heart led at a steady pace, Dr Massini picked up well as the tempo increased off the home turn.

He hit the front a furlong out and had the race sewn up in a matter of strides with an impressive change of gear, coming home a comfortable two and a half lengths clear of Germano.

Stoute's representative, Greville Starkey was unable to shed any light on future plans - "I've not even ridden him at home," he said and joint owner Michael Tabor was equally unrevealing.

"I'm just enjoying the moment," he said. "At least we've got something to look forward to. But I'm sure Michael Stoute and I will be sitting down to discuss fur options.'

Dr Massini had been 4 to 1 for the Derby when he knocked himself three days beforehand, which forced him to miss the race.

The son of Sadler's Wells was seen only once more when he disappointed in finishing a well beaten seventh to Zagreb in the Irish Derby last June.

Tabor said: "He ran poorly in the Irish Derby and he went lame there. It was a decision taken by Michael Stoute to forget about him then and save him for this season. And you don't think I'm going to argue with a man like Michael Stoute!"

Also at Kempton Park, Geoff Lewis came back from the wilderness with a 135 to 1 double. The Epsom trainer tasted success for the first time since last August when Strathmore Clear (11 to 2) and Eastern Prophets (20 to 1) both struck.

Lewis said: "I thought we'd been running a gallop short but the horses are back in form, and last season's problems are behind us. I think I've got a really nice bunch of horses.

"The owners have been very patient and hopefully we'll go on and have a good year."

. Shane Broderick just escaped serious injury after a fall at Fairyhouse yesterday left him deeply unconscious. The jockey only regained conciousness in Blanchardstown Hospital, which he reached by Garda escorted ambulance but Turf Club medical officer Dr Walter Halley said: "It was a very, very serious situation."

Broderick fell from Another Deadly six fences out in the Nuzum Handicap Chase. He was taken straight to hospital and Halley added: "It was a serious accident and he was very deeply unconscious until he was in hospital."

Broderick will be out of racing for at least 21 days and the immediate result of that is that Richard Dunwoody will ride Dorans Pride in today's Power Gold Cup. The Nenagh based rider will also miss out on riding Back Bar in Saturday's Martell Grand National at Aintree. At the end of the immediate 21 day lay off, Halley will review the situation.