Dettori's good run continues as Cretan Gift storms home

Frankie Dettori made it a dozen winners in the past fortnight as he came from an impossible position to score on Cretan Gift at Nottingham yesterday.

The champion jockey looked to have little chance when all but last at halfway in the 19 runner five furlong Nottingham Goose Fair Handicap. And virtually none when checked in his run soon after.

But the Italian refused to panic, biding his time and pouncing when a gap appeared at the distance. He then unleashed a storming run to lead well inside the final furlong and scored by a length and three quarters from Another Batchworth, with only one stroke of his controversial whip in the last 220 yards.

"He was, brilliantly ridden," beamed winning trainer Nick Littmoden. "He had to find a gap and I thought he was a hopeless cause at halfway. Frankie rode the horse once before at Haydock when I rather overdid the instructions so I left it up to him this time.

"I was fairly confident beforehand as he has run some good races and is pretty damn decent on his day but he took a long time to do it!"

Dettori, who has decided not to appeal against the four day whip ban he was handed after winning Saturday's St Leger, on Shantou, will be offered the ride on Cretan Gift in another big race this weekend.

"With a bit of luck he will get in the Ayr Silver Cup and I would love to get Frankie to ride again, Littmoden said.

"Cretan Gift will have a 3lb penalty which gives him half a squeak of a run and he loves flat tracks. This was his first win on turf but there is not a lot in his form on the all weather and grass.

Mark Johnston revealed worries about his younger horses after Happy Minstral had won the EBF Nottingham Maiden. "My two year olds are very difficult to assess, the trainer said. "They have been very unpredictable and I was quite depressed about it.

"But when I looked at it actually one in three have won and that is par for the course."

Happy Minstral may not add to the tally for a while, despite his ready length and a half dismissal of Sword Arm here. He was struck into behind," Johnston revealed. "He has a nasty cut on the back of a fetlock."

William Haggas increased his tally of juvenile winners for the year by, 50 per cent when Telemania collared The Gay Fox late, on to land the Levy Board Maiden.

"That's our third two year old winner of the season but we haven't run that many," said Haggas' wife Maureen.

"She is very green still and gets a bit wound up about things but she is learning all the time. She has got a nice action and hopefully she will settle down with time.

Dai Burchell made it five winners in the past two weeks from his small Ebbw Vale yard when Heavenly Miss took the Colwick Fillies' Nursery by three and a half lengths.

The winner was well beaten at Warwick last time but Burchell explained: "We ran her too quick on the wrong track - she couldn't go round the bend and she is much better on a straight course.

Owner Anna Sanders notched a double as Merrie Le Bow took the Weatherbys Insurance Services Fillies Handicap - under Mrs Sanders' daughter Amanda - and Lady Of Leisure the Trent Limited Stakes.