'She stands apart' - super Sandrine favourite for 1,000 Guineas after easy win
David Probert described Sandrine as "standing apart from any two-year-old filly I've ever ridden" after she supplemented her Royal Ascot win in emphatic fashion in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.
The 11-5 favourite faced off against a number of rivals who had finished in her wake in the Group 3 Albany Stakes last time but confirmed the form with ease to give Andrew Balding a first win in the 6f Group 2 contest.
The daughter of Bobby's Kitten has local connections as she was bred by her owner Kirsten Rausing, whose stud is in nearby Kennett.
After tracking second-favourite Hello You, who had chased her home at Ascot, Sandrine tanked to the front before the furlong pole and stretched away up the hill to hold the gambled-on Desert Dreamer.
Probert said: "That was pretty electric and she stands apart from any two-year-old filly I've ever ridden, she's that good. It was doubly pleasing as this was different ground to Ascot and she handled it."
The winner was introduced as the 14-1 favourite by Ladbrokes for next year's Qipco 1,000 Guineas and Balding added: "I thought she was in front plenty soon enough but she stuck on well. That was a good performance on ground that was a lot different to Ascot.
"I'll have a chat to the owner but I've little desire to travel her abroad just yet, so we'll probably give her a break and wait for the Cheveley Park Stakes in September."
Noble Truth off the mark
Noble Truth went a small way to justifying his seven-figure price tag when staying on well to land the 7f maiden for Charlie Appleby.
The son of Kingman, who cost €1.1 million as a yearling, was third on his first start to Lusail, winner of the July Stakes on Thursday.
He justified 5-2 favouritism when beating the fast-finishing Ehraz and provided Appleby with his third success in the race in six years.
"Once he hit the rising ground, he finished strongly," said Appleby. "We don't have any immediate plans as he's been quite headstrong at home and we're taking each race to see which way he will go.
"This is traditionally a strong race. We might look to work back from something like the Champagne Stakes in September, which will give him some time to show us the right things.
"I think we'll see him over a mile by the end of the season. He's a nice, scopey horse and could be one for the Vertem Futurity Trophy."
Honour restored
William Haggas paid tribute to Team GB Olympic eventer Laura Collett after Dubai Honour returned to winning ways in the 1m2f heritage handicap.
Sent off 11-2 for the three-year-olds-only contest, Dubai Honour backed up a decent comeback fourth at Royal Ascot when outgunning the persistent Foxes Tales to give James Doyle an early double after his win on Noble Truth.
Haggas said: "Laura had Dubai Honour through the winter and has done a great job getting him back in shape. I was worried the race might come a bit soon after Royal Ascot but he's tough."
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