Daylami destroys a top-quality field

As Daylami sailed past the post, with Frankie Dettori pointing his index figure to the skies to emphasise the grey's position as the best horse in Europe, the only wonder was that the flying grey hadn't started a white-hot favourite.

That privilege in Saturday's Esat-Digifone Irish Champion Stakes fell to Royal Anthem in what had been billed as a clash of titans. And there was a clash, except it was of the kind that might happen if Mike Tyson gave the mean eye to Julian Clary.

Put simply, Daylami destroyed a field that had been supposed to be the strongest assembled in Europe this year. Nine lengths separated him from the gallant Irish filly Dazzling Park, with the dual-Derby winner Dream Well in third. Royal Anthem faded to be a disappointing fifth.

"I told the press in Dubai last spring that Daylami would be the next Swain," said a jubilant Sheikh Mohammed, referring to last year's Champion Stakes winner. Judged by this performance it may be some time before the Godolphin supremo refers to another horse as the next Daylami.

Of course, with Godolphin's financial muscle one can never say for sure. Saturday's success was the 51st Group success for the organisation since the Sheikh decided the warmth of Dubai's winter would encourage a horse to run faster than if it spent the winter shivering in Newmarket.

Daylami was a remarkable 14th Group One Godolphin victory this season; their previous best was 13 in 1995, the year of Lammtarra.

None have been more awesome than Saturday's, however. Royal Anthem cut out the pace and Gary Stevens reported that the attentions of Daylami's stable companion, Lord Of Men, were irrelevant.

Royal Anthem ran a little wide into the straight, however, and Dettori had Daylami up his inside like a whippet. One disdainful glance from the Italian to his American colleague confirmed that Royal Anthem's goose was not so much cooked as burnt to a cinder.

Kevin Manning and Dazzling Park were the only ones to make even a semblance of a challenge to the winner, but Dettori could afford to showboat well before the line as Daylami stormed clear.

"Everybody hyped Royal Anthem so much that we worried a bit, but when push came to shove we knew Daylami was man enough to win a race like this," said Dettori, who had returned to the enclosure pointing to the horse and proclaiming: "He is the champion!". "His King George win was from a top-class field, but at York the opposition to Royal Anthem was not as good." Daylami will have two more races this season, but Godolphin confirmed he could miss the Arc and concentrate instead on a choice of the Japan Cup, Breeders Cup or Canadian International. Such is Daylami's proven versatility that when the Godolphin spokesman, Simon Crisford, was asked what the horse's best trip is, he replied: "Eleven furlongs!"

Gary Stevens reported: "If I had lost by four or five lengths, I would have blamed the ground, but he was beaten too far. I was very content early, but Royal Anthem was beaten a long way out in the stretch."

Cash Asmussen was thrilled with Dream Well's effort and said: "It rode like a good, true race and he has run a super race. Another quarter-mile and softer ground would suit, but we will have a pow-wow about running in the Arc."

The decision to run Dazzling Park was vindicated fully with the £120,000 prize money for second, although a delighted Jim Bolger quipped: "I never talk about money on the eve of the Sabbath!"

Dazzling Park will appear next in the Prix de l'Opera on Arc weekend and has a number of engagements after that in the US, including the Breeders Cup.

"Seamus Burns has refused some tempting offers for this filly and I'm glad his faith has been rewarded," Bolger added. "Kevin thought the ground was against her but she always had second in safe keeping." It was a great day all round for Dettori, who won the Trigo Stakes in supremely easy fashion on Strategic, who now goes for the Prix Dollar, and also landed the £75,000 Tote Handicap with the Ian Balding-trained Trans Island, who beat the other English raider, Nomore Mr Niceguy, by a neck.

The latter's trainer, Eric Alston, had earlier hit the mark in the Flying Five when Teburrow won the Group Three sprint for the second year running, beating Timote by a length.

"He's getting older but doesn't seem to be getting slower - unlike me," said Alston.

Dermot Weld's Gold Chaser returned from a long break to take the Talbot Handicap in easy style for new owner Mike Watt.