NEWS ROUND-UP:FRANKIE DETTORI came within a whisker of another "magnificent seven" with a brace of Godolphin winners at Newmarket yesterday to supplement his fantastic four-timer at Lingfield 24 hours earlier.
The front man of British Flat racing dazzled the crowds at the 20th anniversary of all-weather racing on Thursday by making every ride a winning one, and he scooped the first two races on the Rowley Mile aboard Asraab and Quick Wit to complete six successive winning rides.
And not content with that, he fired in a 20 to 1 treble on the day as he drove Brian Meehan’s 7 to 2 favourite Aaim To Prosper into the number one position right on the line in the closing TurfTV Handicap.
Thirteen years have elapsed since he went through the card at Ascot, and Dettori kept himself in the winning groove after his Lingfield exploits as Asraab made a winning debut in the EBF Prestige Vehicles Maiden Stakes.
The 6 to 4 favourite showed plenty of dash, just like his father, Oasis Dream, to thwart the challenge of Jeremy Noseda’s Illustrious Prince.
Dettori then made it six from six in the EBF Cliff Lines 60 Years In Racing Maiden Stakes as 10 to 11 favourite Quick Wit made virtually all on the far-side rail to come home a length-and-a-half clear of Youm Jamil.
Dettori, who last night flew off for rides in Australia and America, said: “I have now won my last six races, which is fabulous.
“It’s great to add to my 100 (for the season, also completed at Lingfield) which means that it is now completely safe and I can sleep easy.
“It’s been a great day and this is a wonderful end to the season.”
The Italian had to settle for fourth in the feature EBF Igloos Bosra Sham Fillies’ Stakes as Conniption was again outpointed by Hughie Morrison’s Queen’s Grace.
The Salisbury third was friendless in the betting ring, but belied the negative vibes to make all in the six-furlong Listed contest and set up a possible return to the track next spring.
John Gosden and George Strawbridge will team up with Rainbow View in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in California next Friday, and the pair were on the mark with Teeky (9 to 2) in the EBF Igloos Fillies’ Handicap.
Day Of The Eagle swooped as the 3 to 1 favourite in the Betfair Apprentice Training Series Final Handicap, while Rum King (9 to 1) emulated stablemate Paco Boy two years earlier by taking the NGK Spark Plugs Conditions Stakes.
Meanwhile, Bible Lord enhanced his Gold Cup claims with an impressive display in the Handicap Chase at Wetherby.
Andy Turnell’s charge gained a definite advantage on the run to the fourth-last fence and made the rest of the running, keeping on well to beat Bauhaus by three-quarters of a length.
There was cause for celebration for jockey Nick Scholfield who was registering his 75th winner and, in doing so, rode out his claim.
As well as the Gold Cup, Bible Lord also holds an entry in the Hennessy at Newbury, but Scholfield said: “I think the Paddy Power Gold Cup over two-and-a-half miles would suit him (more than the Hennessy).”
“He is a very good horse and that will have done his confidence the world of good.”
Nicky Nutjob (18 to 1) put up a game performance to open his jumping account at the fourth attempt under Wayne Hutchinson in the Listed Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
Trainer Jeff Pearce was represented by Phil Stephenson, who said: “Give Mr Hutchinson the praise he deserves as he schooled the horse and has done a great job.
“There was a bit of form there from Nicky Nutjob’s last run and we will have to see what Jeff will do with him now.”
Tony McCoy’s journey paid off when he won the Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap Hurdle on the James Lambe-trained Hunting Tower, who was winning his fourth race from five starts this season.
Richard Mclernon rode his first winner on the course at the third attempt when he brought Tarvini, trained by his guv’nor Jonjo O’Neill, home in front in the Wetherby Racecourse For Wedding Receptions Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
The winner carries the colours of JP McManus and Mclernon said: “Tarvini travelled well but I wasn’t confident, I was holding on to him as long as possible as he is a bit of a character.
“He did it well, though the others were stopping late on.”
Harry Hogarth was on the mark when Ifandbutwhy opened his career account in a “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
