In-form Dettori keeps up good work

WEEKEND DIGEST: FRANKIE DETTORI made it four winners for the weekend with a short-priced Deauville double courtesy of Schiaparelli and Charity Belle. Dettori took the staring role on Variety Club Charity day at Sandown on Saturday, and remained in the spotlight with two Group wins in France.

The in-form rider also narrowly failed to land a hat-trick when Lady Marian was touched off on the Normandy coast.

First up was Goodwood Cup winner Schiaparelli, who continued to progress for Godolphin by proving a cut above in the Prix Kergorlay.

Dettori allowed the gigantic 1 to 5 favourite to use his stride off the final bend and the German import steamed ahead to leave his two rivals toiling.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: “He was second in the Prix Foy last year to Zambezi Sun, so we’ll look at taking him back to Longchamp for that. There is also the Grosser Preis von Baden, but that comes a week earlier and is just a fortnight from now.”

The Italian then made all of the running aboard John Gosden’s Charity Belle in the Prix de la Nonette.

The filly, last seen finishing runner-up in a Ffos Las handicap, had challengers queuing up on all sides inside the final two furlongs, but Dettori extracted more from the 11 to 1 chance, who narrowly fended off the attentions of Article Rare.

Dettori also nearly bagged the Group One Prix Jean Romanet, only for Alpine Rose to get the better of the argument and deny Godolphin’s Lady Marian by a short head.

Dual Oaks winner Sariska may have found being in season a hindrance at York during the week, but Alpine Rose coped with the same occurrence and bravely saw off last year’s Prix de l’Opera winner.

Her trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre, said: “She came into season two days ago, but we had no other option so we decided to run. She doesn’t like the ground as quick as it is here, and prefers it a little softer. She is in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and we will think about that.”

Richard Hannon’s juvenile Dick Turpin took the €147,000 prize-money on offer in the Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes at Fairyhouse on Saturday. William Hill cut him to 16 to 1 from 25s for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.

Hannon jnr said: “He’s won a Group Two so the next step would have to be a Group One. We’ll look at the Racing Post Trophy and Dewhurst.”

On the same Fairyhouse card, Cape Blanco justified skinny odds of 1 to 5 to take the Futurity Stakes for Aidan O’Brien. William Hill left him unchanged at 16 to 1 for the Guineas. He is also their 20 to 1 co-favourite for the Derby.