Lakota Sioux heading for Group 1 company after breakthrough win for owners

Saturday: Newmarket

The Gallop Racing syndicate celebrated their biggest day in the sport when Lakota Sioux recorded a game triumph in the feature Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes.

The seven-furlong contest has a bar of the same name on the July course where many of the ten-strong Yorkshire-based group and their partners headed to toast the success of the Charlie and Mark Johnston-trained filly.

James Doyle was seen to good affect on the 100-30 chance, who ran on well coming out of the Dip despite her tail spinning around like a fan in the closing stages to account for Dandy Alys.

Lakota Sioux was given an opening quote of 33-1 for next year's 1,000 Guineas by Paddy Power after extending the Johnston stable's recent good run with their juvenile fillies.

Syndicate organiser Richard Walker said: "We're in dreamland. We've only had handicappers in the past such as Firmament who has recently been retired and our biggest win before this was the Clipper Logistics Handicap at York. James said not to be in a rush to go a mile just yet and she's in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland."

Charlie Johnston said: "This has been the plan since she finished third in the Chesham at Royal Ascot and it's great for the owners that it's come off. We came here as we had to keep her and our other filly Dance In The Grass apart."

Trebles all round

The feature win brought up a treble for the Johnstons following victories for Killybegs Warrior (Doyle) in the 7f nursery and Madame Ambassador who defied topweight in the 1m4f handicap under Richard Kingscote.

Doyle completed his own treble when steering home Bay Of Honour for Charlie Appleby in the closing mile handicap for three-year-olds.

Diamond sparkles

Bright Diamond lived up to her name when posting a sparkling nine-length triumph on her debut in the 7f maiden fillies' stakes on the July course to earn a quote of 25-1 from Paddy Power for next year's Qipco 1,000 Guineas.

On superhero raceday, Clifford Lee looked more like a villain in the early stages when last and going nowhere on the Karl Burke-trained newcomer, but the picture changed dramatically heading out of the Dip when the daughter of El Kabeir swept clear to defeat Liberalist.

Bright Diamond and Clifford Lee return in triumph

Bright Diamond, sent off at 10-1, was Burke's first runner for owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

"She was a breeze-up purchase and has been quite laid back at home to be honest so we weren't expecting that," said the trainer. "I'm not sure how good the race was but she wasn't stopping and could go up to a mile next time. We'll see how she comes out of this but something like the Group 2 May Hill Stakes could suit her."

The 7f contest was for horses who have not raced before and has a history of producing top-level performers, with previous winners including Wuheida and Winsili.

Lee said: "That was a bit unexpected to be honest as we were first under the pump at halfway but she picked up nicely. We thought she was a nice type but you never know what you're taking on in these Newmarket maidens."

Results, replays and analysis

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