THE Diomed Stakes is traditionally one of the curtain-raisers on Derby Day at Epsom, but this year it took pride of place at Newbury on Saturday, and provided Simon and Ed Crisford with the biggest win of their fledgling training partnership.
The 5/1 chance Century Dream proved too resolute for race favourite King Of Comedy under a fine front-running ride from James Doyle, thereby reprising the horse’s win in the same event in 2018.
Century Dream missed most of the season last year having gone to Dubai early in 2019, and things didn’t really fall for him in the autumn, but he was back to his best here having had wind surgery in the interim.
John Gosden’s King Of Comedy has plenty of talent, but he once again looked to have more than his share of temperament as he carried his head very high when asked for his effort, only nosing Zaaki (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) out of second on the line. The latter had won this race at Epsom 12 months ago, and went down fighting.
Listed winners
The Diomed was the only group race of last weekend, but there were a plethora of listed contests of varied shape and size, and the winners merits a mention or more, lest their big moments be upstaged by the action at Royal Ascot.
The Godolphin-owned Lazuli landed the Unibet Scurry Stakes at Sandown, making all under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby. The three-year-old was gelded after disappointing in the Cornwallis Stakes last autumn, and preceded this win with an excellent second in handicap company at Newmarket. He will undoubtedly find his place in a lop-sided sprint division.
Franconia, a Frankel half-sister to Nassau Stakes winner Winsili, made an encouraging debut at Chelmsford in November, and built on that to justify favouritism in the Abingdon Fillies’ Stakes at Newbury.
John Gosden’s charge made light work of her opponents, drawing right away when asked for her effort by Frankie Dettori to win by three and three quarter lengths from Cabaletta. She is likely to go for York’s Group 2 Musidora Stakes in July.
Mubtasimah (William Haggas/James Doyle), a useful handicapper last year, took her form up a notch to land the Maggie Dickson Fillies’ Stakes by two lengths from Miss Celestial in a race normally run at Musselburgh.
Khalifa Sat (Andrew Balding/Tom Marquand) clearly likes the contours of Goodwood, adding to a juvenile maiden win at the West Sussex track with a likeable victory in the Cocked Hat Stakes last Sunday, where he sprung a minor shock at 8/1 against well-touted Wolverhampton debut winner Emissary. The son of Free Eagle is closely related to St Leger runner-up Unsung Heroine, and he should progress again upped in trip.
The six-furlong Cathedral Stakes had more of the look of a high-end sprint handicap, but that won’t bother winning trainer Martyn Meade, who also owns Lyzbeth under the banner of Mantonbury Stud. The daughter of Zoffany got the better of Newmarket winner Bungee Jump to gain some all-important blacktype under Oisin Murphy.
Red Verdon (Ed Dunlop/David Allan) was gaining his eighth career win when landing the Betway Grand Cup at Doncaster’s Sunday meeting. Winner of the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup last summer, Red Verdon was too good for King’s Advice, and can be expected to run in the Ebor back at York in August.
El Astronaute has been a money-spinner for John Quinn and owner Ross Harmon, and the speedy sprinter racked up win number 13 in the Betway Achilles Stakes at Doncaster, getting to the front readily, and responding gamely to fend of Tarboosh by half a length.
On Monday, Antonia De Vega (Ralph Beckett/Harry Bentley) was workmanlike in gaining a narrow success from La Lune in the Pontefract Castle Stakes, suggesting she’ll need further than a mile and a half to add to her tally.