WALTER SWINBURN, badly injured in Hong Kong in February, was all smiles as he drove Michael Stoute's Pilsudski (11-1) to a game win in the Group One Grosser Preis von Baden (12f) in Germany yesterday.
The progressive Royal Whip winner outstayed the 1995 winner and front running Germany, (L Dettori) in the final 100 yards. to triumph by three quarters of a length in course record (2m 26.74s) equalling time. Germany, despite the defeat, now heads for the Arc de Triomphe.
Swinburn, celebrating his first Group One win since returning to the saddle last month, said: "It was very game from a progressive horse, and he has the priceless ability to act on any ground."
Pilsudski was the outsider of seven in a field hit by the withdrawals of John Reid's intended mount Hollywood Dream, Surako and Clive Brittain's Luso due to injury.
Dermot Weld's Definite Article, fourth on a previous visit to Germany, again had to settle for the same place just under four lengths adrift of the winner. However, Michael Kinane, Definite Article's pilot, could console himself with an earlier victory gained on 135 to 10 outsider, Selbal, in a £7,600 plus handicap over seven furlongs.
John Dunlop's well bred juvenile filly, Folgore (Giovanni Forte), failed to follow up her Milan debut success in July by going down to Rokken by a length and a quarter in the Premio Menaggio there on Saturday.
Earlier Dunlop's Yavlensky, an unraced juvenile Caerleon colt, finished a disappointing ninth to Sopran Glask over the same trip.
Henry Cecil has admitted he is losing the race against time to prepare Epsom Oaks winner Lady Carla for the Pertemps St Leger on September 14th.
The Carleon filly, an emphatic nine-length winner of the Fpsorr classic 16st her unbeaten record when a most disappointing fourth to Dance Design in the Kildangan Stud-sponsored Irish equivalent at the Curragh last month.
She was then ruled out of the Group One Yorkshire Oaks at York 10 days ago, and the Warren Place trainer is now struggling to ready the bay for the final-classic.
"Lady Carla has a back problem, and, although much better, she has missed two weeks' proper work," said Cecil. "Despite swimming over the last few days, I feel she is unlikely to make the race as we had hoped that the recovery would have been quicker.
"She has not been suffering from a wind problem as John McCririck insisted and hopefully she will run later in the season. Failing that, she will probably be kept in training next year.
Cecil also has Great Voltigeur winner Dushyantor and the progressive Flying Legend entered for the St Leger.
Richard Hughes was suspended for six days after riding a finish a circuit too soon in the Shelton Trenching Systems Handicap at Wolverhampton on Saturday night.
Hughes set off in front in the extended one and three quarter mile contest on Mapengo and dashed his mount clear of his 11 rivals on the exit to the back straight after covering three furlongs.
Mapengo was well clear when Hughes eased up passing the post, only for the five-year-old to be overtaken as the runners set out for their second circuit.
Hughes was found guilty of irresponsible riding under Rule 141 (vii) and admitted that he rode a fin and started to pull up a circuit too early.
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