Dazzle gives dull display

THE lights appeared to go out on Dazzle's bid for 1,000 Guineas glory as French raider Pas de Reponse swept into the Classic spotlight at Newmarket yesterday.

Sent off 4 to 9 favourite to reinforce her 1,000 Guineas claims, Dazzle could only finish fourth after being given a stiff task by Kieren Fallon in the £60,000-added Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes.

Frankie Dettori finished runner-up on Moonlight Paradise, and drew an uncharacteristic blank at the meet. The Italian superstar. on 99 for 1996 on the turf and all weather surface, was also aboard Abou Zouz, the 7 to 4 favourite for the Tattersalls Houghton Sales Conditions Stakes, but could only finish fifth behind the Ian Balding-trained Papua.

Dazzle's trainer Michael Stoute was clearly upset at the tactics adopted by Fallon in the Cheveley. Fallon has won plenty of praise for his riding this season and is set to team up with Henry Cecil.

Stoute fumed: "Perhaps she wasn't at her best but she was left stranded at the back of the field. I would have wanted her to have been closer than that."

The result prompted bookmakers Coral to push out Dazzle to 12 to 1 (from 4s) for the 1,000 Guineas. Hills and Ladbrokes make her 8 to 1 (from 7 to 2).

Quotes on Pas de Reponse vary from 7 to 1 up to 14s. Sleepytime, only third at Ascot on Sunday is a best priced 7 to 2 (Ladbrokes) favourite for the Guineas.

Pas de Reponse's jockey Freddie Head has received his share of criticism when riding in England but he rode a sound race on this occasion.

While Kieren Fallon bided his time, Head sent his mount to the front with a furlong to go.

Pas de Reponse responded well to his urgings to defeat Moonlight Paradise by a length with the same distance back to Ocean Ridge.

Dazzle, who was more than six lengths in arrears going into the dip, made up some ground but was still a further half a length in arrears at the line.

Dear Life, raised 8lbs since her win at Epsom, defied the burden in the opening NGK Spark Plugs Rated Stakes, leading over two furlongs out for claimer Martin Dwyer, to beat Fitzwilliam and Ionio by a length and a quarter and three-and-a-half lengths.

Nightbird, 5 to 1 co-favourite of three for the EBF Jersey Lily Fillies' Nursery Handicap was a winner for trainer Barry Hills and his jockey son Michael.

The closing EBF Equity Financial Maiden Stakes went to easy winner Asas, in the Hamdan Al Maktoum colours.