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| Staff Writer |
Frankie Dettori had a point to prove. That he did aboard last year's champion 2YO Inspiral
The Frankel filly, trained by John and Thady Gosden, shot sublimely clear to see off American raider Spendarella, who turned in a brave performance to hold second for owner Gainesway Farm and trainer Graham Motion.
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Spendarella, previously unbeaten in three starts, had taken the Gr.2 Appalachian Stakes (GT2) at Keeneland in April.
Another American-trained runner, Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay's Pizza Bianca, winner of the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall, ran eighth for trainer Christophe Clement.
The 51YO, who made a mess of removing the hood from Lord North in Gr.1 Wales's Stakes before his ride on old favorite Stradivarius in the Gr.1 Gold Cup, was questioned and criticised by mentor Gosden, while the Queen's Saga was a head second in the Britannia Stakes.
"This is great. I've had a difficult week. I couldn't get the hood off Lord North and things didn't go right on Stradivarius and I was just touched off, unlucky, in the Britannia and then the colt got beaten at odds-on.
"We've had a tough week and everyone has been a bit down, but racing is like that and she's put a smile on our face."
Those grins might have come sooner had Inspiral, who spent the winter as the favorite for the One Thousand Guineas (G1), come to hand as connections had desired in the spring.
"She's very special," her adoring partner added. "I thought when she broke slow, 'Here we go again, what else can go wrong here.' I took a chance on the inside, she got all the splits, she's got an engine, and she got me out of trouble.
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"She really took off and she put some good fillies to bed in great style, so it's very exciting."
Winning joint-trainer John Gosden believes Inspiral will get a longer trip and said: "There was an element of relief at the furlong pole and surprise at the line. I asked Frankie coming in. I like the jockey's first reaction before they have time to think on what they feel, and I think you could go a mile and a quarter with her. This is a stiff mile here.
"You have races like the Gr.1 Nassau at Goodwood or you could go for the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1) at Deauville. You have those sorts of races. Remember, you will meet the older horses now, but she does get weight from them which helps."
Regarding the runner-up, Motion told TVG, "I'm thrilled with her. She's a very brave filly, and I think she proved she is a grade 1 filly today."
| RACE REPLAY |
Winner Race 2022 |
1st Inspiral, J. Thady, F. Dettori ,2nd Spendarella,H. Motion, W. Buick,3rd Discoveries, M. Harrington, S. Foley,4th Tenebrism, A. O'Brien, R. Moore, 5th Cachet, G. Boughey, J. Doyle, 6th Honey Girl, H. Bromhead, C. Keane, 7th Sandrine, A. Balding, D. Probert, 8th Pizza Bianca, C. Clement, J. Ortiz,9th Mangoustine, M. Delzangles, G. Mosse, 10th Prosperous Voyage, R. Beckett, R. Hornby, 11th Grande Dame, J. Thady, J. Spencer, 12th Rolling The Dice, H. Kobeissi, M. Ghiani