Godolphin Group One double in Italy
It takes a lot to keep Frankie Dettori away from a Saturday fixture at his beloved Ascot but the Italian was happy to swap Berkshire for his homeland and a Group One winner.
Godolphin had been going through a lean time during the summer but made it six Group One winners in the last two weeks with a big-race double at San Siro, in Milan.
Dettori and Saeed bin Suroor have never given up on Rio de la Plata, a Group One winner as two-year-old, who had lost his way with a variety of injuries and ailments. But he proved them right when he won the Group One Premio Vittorio di Capua. Dettori had Rio de la Plata on the inside of the field, making smooth headway entering the straight and moved to fourth passing the three-furlong marker.
Rio de la Plata, who had just been touched off in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp last month, ran on to take the lead with more than a furlong left to run and then forged clear but Dettori had to throw everything into the finish to fend off the challenge of Vanjura, to win by a short neck.
“Rio de la Plata ran a huge race today and I am delighted that he has won another Group One,” Bin Suroor said. “He was always travelling well and Frankie had him in a nice position throughout the race. I was a little concerned about the ground today but it rode like good to soft and he finished his race well.
“There are no plans for him at the moment but we will have to look at winning another Group One race with him now.”
Rio de la Plata was a winner in the race for Godolphin following on from Muhtathir (1999), Slickly (2001 & 2002), Ancient World (2004) and Gladiatorus (2009).
The stable’s other trainer, Mahmood al Zarooni, has a yard that is mainly two-year-olds and the best of those may be Biondetti, who maintained his unbeaten record with a comfortable victory in the Group One Gran Criterium.
Ahmed Ajtebi took the ride on the Bernardini colt, who appeared to be caught a little flat-footed as the pace quickened entering the straight. But Biondetti responded well for Ajtebi, running on to take second passing the two-furlong marker and hitting the lead entering the final furlong.
Singapore Lilly briefly threatened to lay down a strong challenge in the closing stages, but the Godolphin runner found plenty under pressureto win by a half-length. “Biondetti ran a very good race today and he won quite nicely in the end - Ahmed didn’t have to be too hard on him,” Al Zarooni said.
“He was still a bit green but he has improved with every appearance and I am very pleased to have won a Group One contest with him. I don’t know if he will run again this year. We will see how he comes out of this race and then discuss any further plans.
“He will be given an entry in the Breeders’ Cup but I will have to speak with Sheikh Mohammed before finalising any decision. Vale Of York was second in this race 12 months ago before going on to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but I think that it might have been a stronger renewal of the Gran Criterium last year.”
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