Attraction defies her critics

Racing/ News: Attraction silenced the doubters with an outstanding all-the-way victory in the UltimateBet.com 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday. Since she first appeared on a racecourse last year, Attraction's ungainly, bandy-legged stride has drawn as much comment as her undoubted abilities.

But beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder and nobody was knocking the Mark Johnston-trained filly after this tremendous performance. She floored her rivals with a lethal combination of early pace and sheer guts.

Twice last year injury threatened to derail the career of Attraction, who made it five out of five when winning the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket in July but was forced to remain off the racecourse until today.

Once she recovered from problems with her knees and a fractured pedal bone in a hind leg last autumn, however, Johnston had always been adamant that her training regime had gone perfectly to plan.

And this success provided no small degree of personal satisfaction for the Middleham maestro, who was clearly stung by some of the negative comments about Attraction's physical problems in the build-up to the race.

Quickly away, Attraction led the field in the centre of the course with Carry On Katie in close proximity and Spotlight racing alone on the stands side. Carry On Katie was the first to cry enough over two furlongs out as Hathrah and Silca's Gift put in their glory bids. But Attraction soon had their measure, while Sundrop's challenge came too late. Attraction, returned at 11 to 2, held the late thrust of runner-up Sundrop by half a length, with Hathrah the same distance back in third.

The placed fillies shaped like obvious Oaks candidates as Godolphin had to settle for the runner-up spot in a Guineas for the second day running, but the winner is set to remain at a mile for future engagements.

Kerrin McEvoy, who only arrived in Britain from Australia days ago, enjoyed a memorable experience on the runner-up. Having just her third run, Sundrop showed signs of inexperience but ran on gamely in the final stages to suggest that a step up in trip would suit.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "She ran a big race but she needs further. The Oaks will be her target. She needed this race and she will come on a lot for it."

Trainer John Dunlop said of Hathrah: "I couldn't be more pleased. She'll either go to Epsom or for the Diane (French Oaks). While Sheikh Hamdan will have the final say, I personally lean towards France rather than attempt the full mile and a half.

"She was some off way off the top fillies last year, so she has come a long way up the ladder."