Bosra Sham gives Cecil emotional Guineas win

BOSRA SHAM beat a foot injury to return Henry Cecil back to the classic winning arena with a brave victory in the Pertemps 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday.

Lame on her near fore just 48 hours before the big race, she ran through the pain barrier to deliver her trainer's first classic success since Commander In Chief took the 1993 Derby.

It was an emotional triumph for the 10 times champion trainer who has seen three ex-inmates lift domestic classics - Moonshell, Classic Cliche and Mark Of Esteem - under the Godolphin banner and lost the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed following an acrimonious split last year.

The Newmarket crowd recognised his accomplishment by reserving a special cheer for Cecil as he entered the winners enclosure and an even bigger roar when the filly survived a stewards inquiry into interference.

"Wasn't that amazing. What a reception! It almost makes you want to cry," he choked. "I never throw in the towel. But when a horse is hopping lame two days before the Guineas, you don't expect her to get there. Sir Noel Murless said a horse must be 110 per cent to win a classic but she's done it probably at 90 per cent. When she crossed the line I felt weak and tearful."

Bosra Sham was under pressure fully three furlongs out as Papering set a fast pace. But she kept responding to Pat Eddery, struck the front a furlong out and, despite edging left, held Matiya by a length and a half with Bint Shadayid third and My Branch, fourth.

Eddery was banned for two days, May 14th and 15th of York's Dante meeting, for careless riding but that didn't tarnish the rider's first win in the race: which completed a set of classics for the rider.

Bosra Sham, at 530,000 guineas the most expensive ye ailing bought in Europe in 1994, also claimed the most important success for her Syrian owner Wafic Said and put Cecil alongside Dick Hern as the most successful classic winning trainer with 16 wins.

She will continue to be campaigned over a mile but the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, rather than the Irish 1,000 Guineas, is likely to be her next target.

"When Pat went to let her down in the last two furlongs she was feeling it. She has done very well and has had a horrible time with people constantly doing her leg," added Cecil.

"She may need a rest to get over her foot problem so we are likely to think more of Ascot thank Ireland. But I hope next time she will run much better"

Eddery said: "It's been a long, wait for this win and now I've got the full house. You've not seen the real Bosra Sham today. When I asked her she started to go a bit left. She has bags of speed and she's a miler, as good a miler as I've ridden."

Matiya will contest the Irish 1,000 Guineas while the Godolphin runner Bint Shadayid could take up an entry in the Prix de Diane.

My Branch, also owned by Wafic Said, was the unlucky runner. She was blocked on the rails until inside the final furlong.

"Michael said he would definitely have been second at least with a clear run," said Barry Hills.

Godolphin added another string to their Classic bow when Pricket made a highly impressive reappearance in the RL Davison Pretty Polly Stakes.

The filly was made 6 to 4 favourite by all major firms to gain a third straight Oaks win for Sheikh Mohammed's ground breaking organisation after she destroyed her Listed race rivals.

Pricket was always travelling strongly, cruised up to lead a furlong and a half from home and powered clear for a five-length victory with the minimum of urging from Frankie Dettori. Fellow Espom entry Faraway Waters was second, half a length ahead of recent Kempton winner Magnificient Star in third.

"I will wait to see what Sheikh Mohammed says but she will probably go straight for the Oaks now, said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

Pat Eddery kicked off a Classic-winning afternoon in fine style by landing the opening Lords Taverners Conditions Stakes on Projection. And he completed a four timer on Madly Sharp in the Bretby Rated Stakes and Phantom Quest in the closing Hastings Maiden.

The former champion jockey was seen at his best on the Barry Hills-trained Projection, second in the European Free Handicap last time.

He dictated a slow pace from the front, gradually quickened from the two-furlong pole and scored by a comfortable length and three quarters from favourite Hidden Oasis.

"I thought Pat rode an exceptionally good race." Hills said. "He slowed them up and dictated the pace."

"Projection is a nice horse and hopefully he will go on from this. The Free Handicap is always solid form and this seven-furlong trip is perfect for him."

Madly Sharp returned from an eight-month lay-off with a bruised elbow to pip Venture. Capitalist.

"He tends to get one problem a year but he could go for another rated stakes at York later this month," reported winning trainer Bill Watts.

Mark Johnston successfully broke new ground yesterday when Double Diamond, his first Swiss runner, made the long haul from Middleham pay off by taking the local version of the 2,000 Guineas at Frauenfeld. Jason Weaver's mount scored a comfortable success over Shturm and Fablinex.