Kinane drives Donna Blini home

Report from Newmarket: Brian Meehan has his sights firmly set upon next year's Stan James-sponsored 1,000 Guineas after he claimed the Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes for the second year running at Newmarket yesterday.

Mick Kinane gave 12 to 1 winner Donna Blini a typically masterful ride to kick ahead of his rivals over one furlong out.

And the ground that Kinane pinched at that point proved decisive as the filly held off the late challenges of Wake Up Maggie and favourite Flashy Wings by a neck and the same.

Donna Blini had been off the course since landing the Cherry Hinton Stakes back in July and she showed signs of freshness when keen in the early stages.

But once Kinane had managed to get a tow from early leader Dizzy Dreamer, he was able to settle his mount.

The latter gave way on meeting the rising ground and it was at that point Donna Blini was sent about her business and rallied well to see off the persistent challenge of the runner-up.

Ted Durcan had settled Flashy Wings towards the rear of the 10-runner field and made a deal of ground up in the closing stages.

The bookmakers clearly agreed that Flashy Wings had been unable to show her best form, as she remains ahead of Donna Blini in the ante-post betting for the 1,000 Guineas.

But winning trainer Meehan was not about to let that bother him.

"I don't worry about that sort of thing," he said. "I think she's a Guineas filly and that's what she will be trained for. My first impression is she won't run again this season.

"I wouldn't think there would be a problem with the trip as long as they go a good enough gallop with her.

"She's a lovely filly. She proved it in the Cherry Hinton. We debated the Lowther and all sorts of things, the Moyglare and even the Doncaster sales race with all that money, but we felt it was best to wait and give her time.

"She's a tough, hardy filly and she galloped all the way to the line. Maybe the break she had made her idle a bit going to the line. We are very pleased with her.

"It's been a good season. We haven't had as many two-year-old winners but we've had fewer runners because they have been more backward which means we've more to look forward to in the future."

An impressive winner in a juvenile Group One event is usually a potential target for the likes of Godolphin, but owner Shaun Cunningham - a wine merchant by trade - said the chequebooks might as well stay in the drawer.

"She's not for sale, even if Sheikh Mohammed wants to give me an oil well," he said. "I'll never get another horse as good as this again and I'm not about to give up the dream now."

Meanwhile, a step up to Group One company could be on the cards for Aussie Rules after he regained the winning thread in a thrilling renewal of the Somerville Tattersall Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien is considering a tilt at the Darley Dewhurst Stakes back on the Rowley Mile course on October 15th as hold-up tactics paid dividends in this Group Three contest.

The Danehill colt weaved his way through the pack to lead well inside the final furlong but was strongly pressed by the rallying Killybegs.

However, the 3 to 1 joint-favourite stuck his head out for Kieren Fallon and held on by a short head.

O'Brien said: "Kieren was very confident he wanted to ride him this way, so he produced him late. He loves fast ground and will make up into a lovely horse.

"We'll see how he is and he could come back in a couple of weeks for the Dewhurst, especially as Kieren knows how he likes to ride him now."

Aussie Rules had been beaten at odds-on last time and Fallon said: "We were in front at the Curragh and he idled all the way and he gave it away at the finish. He was out there too long and he likes to come late.

"I didn't know whether I'd won, I had my head down, he (Killybegs) was coming and my fellow was stopping - when he gets there he switches off.

"He's very tough and he's going to be much better next year."

O'Brien and Fallon completed a double when Fire And Rain made a winning debut in the Macmillan Cancer Relief Coffee Morning Maiden Stakes.