LONGINES JUST A GAME

STAKES (GRADE 1)

BILL Mott, Juddmonte’s main American trainer since Bobby Frankel died, didn’t have time to feel snubbed when Flintshire went to Chad Brown and won the Manhattan. Mott was too busy winning races. The Hall of Famer bagged the Grade 1 Just A Game with Celestine and the Grade 1 Acorn with Carina Mia.

Mott didn’t back down after Celestine upset the Just A Game, a race lacking Royal Ascot hopefuls Tepin and Miss Temple City.

“They might be lucky they were there today,” Mott said after James Bryan’s filly scampered to a three and three-quarter-length win over Recepta and Mrs McDougal.

Junior Alvarado put Celestine near the lead and she easily turned back 12 rivals, who included Irish-breds Lady Lara, Faufiler, La Berma and Irish Rookie, to score for the sixth time. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Scat Daddy improved her record to four for seven since joining Mott last spring.

Celestine finished the mile in 1m31.64sec, one 100th of a second off Elusive Quality’s track record.

“She just gets better as time goes on, she just drew away from a very good field,” Mott said. “She’s pretty fast and she’s rating well.”