Newmarket Friday

Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (Group 1)

FOR the second time this year, Nazeef (John Gosden/Jim Crowley) got the better of Billesdon Brook (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) in a tight finish. While she was getting 7lb off the Sun Chariot heroine when scoring at Kempton last month, she was able to maintain her superiority on equal terms in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes, the pair both lunging at long-time leader Terebellum (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori) as the odds-on favourite began to paddle in the softest ground she has experienced.

The distances between the principals at the line were a neck and the same, and with One Master just half a length behind, this was one of the most exciting finishes in the race’s history.

Nazeef has progressed rapidly since last season, which she ended by winning a handicap on the Rowley Mile, and she preceded this career highlight by winning the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.

She’s proven herself on fast, soft and artificial surfaces, and is surely not finished her remarkable progress yet.

Billesdon Brook always seems to be ignored when running at this level, but Group 1 wins in the 1000 Guineas and the Sun Chariot Stakes prove how effective she is at Newmarket, and she went agonisingly close to another shock win here.

IT was a red-letter day for Nick Bradley Racing, the syndicate which owns Duchess of Cambridge Stakes winner Dandalla (Karl Burke/Ben Curtis). Not only were the owners able to cheer the evens favourite home in front for this Group 2 contest, but the filly who pushed her hardest was Fev Rover (Richard Fahey/Danny Tudhope) carrying Bradley’s second colours and producing a £31.59 straight forecast for backers.

Santosha (Dave Loughnane/Tom Greatrex) ran a cracker in third at 50/1, with both the second and third producing strong challenges from off the pace after Seattle Rock had set a furious pace.

The initial impression was that Dandalla and market rival Time Scale, who was fourth, were forced into making their challenges earlier than ideal, giving those more patiently ridden a chance to close late in the day.

P.J. hits the 1,000 mark

P.J. MDONALD was the latest jockey to hit a major career milestone when partnering Mark Johnston’s Zabeel Champion to win the one-and-a-quarter-mile handicap earlier on the Newmarket card, that win his 963rd on the flat.

He also won 37 over jumps earlier in his career, including the Scottish Grand National on Hot Weld, and was therefore joining that select band of riders to hit the 1,000 mark in the saddle.

The highlight of his career on the flat was his Fillies’ Mile victory on board Laurens a few years ago, and his landmark win was greeted with as many cheers as could be generated by the small crowd in attendance on the July course in Newmarket yesterday.