Thursday, Jul 29, 2004
This may have been a season dominated by Godolphin's big guns but Soviet Song landed a blow for the small man - about 15,500 of them - when winning the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood for the Elite Racing Club syndicate.
In comparison to Godolphin's 250 horses in training, Elite have just 21, paid for not by the wealth of the oil-rich Dubai royalty but by the monthly subs of a multitude of small owners. But in Soviet Song the club has a filly that can mix it with anything the big boys have to offer.
This was her second Group One of the season following victory over the previously unbeaten Attraction in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month. Before that she had been narrowly beaten by Godolphin's Refuse To Bend at Royal Ascot when there was a suspicion that jockey Johnny Murtagh had hit the front too soon.
On Wednesday, as 3/1 second favourite behind Refuse To Bend, there was no such problems. Murtagh had Soviet Song in the perfect position tracking Refuse To Bend and Le Vie Dei Colori and two furlongs out sent his filly for home with a rapid burst of acceleration. Although Le Vie Dei Colori ran on well, it was Nayyir who presented the only genuine challenge, coming late and forcing Soviet Song to battle all the way to the line.
After the Falmouth, trainer James Fanshawe wanted to rest Soviet Song until the autumn, but after noting her progress thought again. "That's her sixth race this year and she came back from every race and improved for each one. She's really tough. She took her races badly last year, but she's had a year to mature and I'm really grateful to the Elite Racing Club for keeping her in training," Fanshawe said.
Earlier, Shamardal burst to the head of the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas after routing the Vintage Stakes field. The Mark Johnston-trained colt is as low as 12/1 for the Classic.
* The Jockey Club announced on Wednesday that the Hillside Girl inquiry would be adjourned until September 14 because of a mounting weight of evidence. Trainer Alan Berry and three others face serious charges over the running of Hillside Girl, who was was pulled up lame in a race at Carlisle last June.
Adam James
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