Sharpened by a solid comeback effort when third in the G2 Middleton S. over a 10-furlong trip that would have been on the short side for her at York May 12, last year's G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. runner-up Journey was back in the winner's spot under a well-judged ride from Frankie Dettori here. Springing to life towards the summer of her last campaign, the homebred broke her black-type maiden at 33-1 in Salisbury's 10-furlong Listed Upavon Fillies' S. in August before turning in a dynamic front-running display to follow up by eight lengths in Newmarket's Listed Princess Royal S. at a mile and a half in September. Runner-up to Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) on Champions Day, the bay looked in need of further on her return when the confidently-backed favourite in the Middleton and Frankie Dettori was able to bide his time throughout the early stages of this affair with a perfect lead from Sweeping Up to aim at. Allowing that rival a sizeable lead passing the four-furlong point, Dettori knew what he had under him and with some cajoling was able to reel in the long-time leader with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining en route to a comfortable score. “It was a good effort, as she's not easy but has lots of ability,” her jockey said. “I was happy enough, but I still feel she can move better. She thrived on the soft ground at Ascot on Champions Day and the ground here is on the good-to-firm side now and is quick enough for her. She tries her heart out, but if we can drop her in we can get her better. In the first two furlongs she wasn't really taking me, but approaching the bend she lit up and I had to getthe revs down. Two-and-a-half furlongs out, she quickened up and put the race to bed. I only have to ride her in races and I'm glad of that, the lads at home do a great job with her.”Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Saturday, Haydock, Britain
188BET.CO.UK PINNACLE S.-G3, £63,000, HAY, 5-28, 4yo/up, f, 11f 200yT, 2:32.47, gd.
1–@JOURNEY (GB), 126, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Montare (Ire) (G1SW-Fr, $852,544), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Contare (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Balenare (GB), by Pharly (Fr)
O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £35,727. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 11-4-3-1, $346,309. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sweeping Up (GB), 126, m, 5, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Farfala (Fr), by Linamix (Fr). O-Ben & Sir Martyn Arbib; B-Arbib Bloodstock Partnership (GB); T-Hughie Morrison. £13,545.
3–Miss Marjurie (Ire), 126, m, 6, Marju (Ire)–Kazatzka (GB), by Groom Dancer. (31,000gns Ylg '11 TAOC; 60,000gns 2yo '12 TATBRE; 300,000gns RNA 5yo '15 TATMAR). O-Chris van Hoorn Racing; B-Coleman Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Denis Coakley. £6,779.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 11.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Laganore (Ire), Namhroodah (Ire), Lustrous (GB), Mill Springs (GB). Scratched: California (Ire), Carnachy (Ire).
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