Tamfana dominates Atalanta Stakes to give David Menuisier 'important' victory

Tamfana, so often a bridesmaid in the top races this season, played a starring role in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes.

The apple of trainer David Menuisier's eye, Tamfana suffered a luckless passage when fourth in the 1,000 Guineas in May and was only headed deep in the final furlong in the Prix de Diane the following month. 

She was entitled to start the 13-8 favourite dropping in class and showed her star quality with a decisive two-and-three-quarter-length success over Royal Ascot winner Doha.

Menuisier was kicking himself after Tamfana ran out of puff over a mile and half in the Grand Prix de Paris last time but this time she travelled effortlessly racing back over a mile at Sandown. 

"I'm delighted and she's done it with style," said Menuisier. "Despite the fact she's had a break and she was in need of the run, that's how she should have won the race.

David Menuisier: "There was a fair amount of pressure"Credit: Edward Whitaker

"I've enjoyed her since day one. She's been challenging at times, rewarding and frustrating, but she's fantastic and I'm lucky to have three or four high-class horses. They're the ones you look forward to all your life and it's a dream come true."

The priority now will be to make Tamfana a Group 1 winner this season, and she has options at Newmarket, Longchamp and Ascot before the end of the season.

"She's entered in the Sun Chariot over a mile and the Prix de l'Opera over a mile and a quarter the next day, so we have the choice and won't make the call right now," said the trainer. "She's also entered in the QEII, so that's on the radar.

"It was important to win today, so there was a fair amount of pressure. When you run at Group 1 level anything can happen and you're hopeful, but today hopeful wasn't enough. It's good pressure and this was an important stepping stone."

Clifford in flying form

Flying Frontier was cut to 20-1 (from 33) with the sponsors for the bet365 Cambridgeshire after bouncing back from a lacklustre display in the Racing League to land the 1m2f handicap.

Former jockey Philip Robinson, now racing manager to winning owner Saeed Manana, knows a good ride when he sees one and was full of praise for Clifford Lee's effort aboard the 11-2 winner, who was trained by James Tate.

"He's a funny old horse," said Robinson. "You've got to keep him interested and keep his mind on the job because he can switch off and drop himself out. The jockey did a wonderful job keeping him interested and then made his mind up for him when he got there. He took the brave route up the inner, which I think paid off and kept him interested. The ride has made the difference. 

"He's entered in the Cambridgeshire and it's not out of the question if he tells his trainer he's in good form."

No stopping Murphy

Oisin Murphy was out of luck aboard Royal Playwright in the Solario Stakes but did little wrong elsewhere on the card as he secured a 35-1 treble.

Murphy, who is racing towards a fourth jockeys' championship on the Flat in Britain, added to his victory aboard Tamfana with success on Glenfinnan in the 7f handicap and Flight in the £40,000 maiden for fillies.

"Flight is a beautifully bred filly and hopefully she'll keep progressing, while I've won on Glenfinnan before so was probably entitled to have another go on him," said the rider. "He did well to finish off like that considering he was a bit keen through the race."

Trainer Ollie Sangster, who also has Listed winners Celestial Orbit and Group 2 scorer Simmering among a high-achieving team of two-year-olds, is eyeing Doncaster's St Leger meeting next for Flight. 

"The logical next step is to go up to stakes company and something like the May Hill might suit," said Sangster. "It comes quite soon but I think the nature of Doncaster and stepping up to a mile would be perfect for this filly, so we'll look at that as long as it doesn't come too quickly.

"She's taken a bit longer than the other two fillies to come to hand but she's up there and the ability is there for sure."

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