James Fanshawe and Johnny Murtagh capped a memorable few days when Frizzante
flew home in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Thursday to give them their second
Group One success of the week.
The recently-formed partnership upset the apple cart on Tuesday when Soviet
Song turned over Attraction in the Falmouth Stakes.
And the pair threw up another surprise with the 14-1 winner of the July
meeting showpiece.
Frizzante, trained locally at Fanshawe's Pegasus Stables, saw off 19 rivals
who travelled the world for the six-furlong contest, with Australian hope Exceed
and Excel being sent off the 4-1 favourite.
However, the market leader never looked like getting dangerous during the
closing stages and it was left to 100-1 shot Ashdown Express, Balmont (25-1) and
Hong Kong-raider Cape Of Good Hope (20-1) to fill the places.
Exceed and Excel was smartly away from his draw in stall three and was soon
joined at the head of affairs by Patavellian and Japanese raider Seeking The
Dia.
Irish challenger Antonius Pius was under pressure by halfway and as the
leaders started to crumble, Balmont looked the be the biggest danger.
But it was Murtagh who stole the show, quickening from some way off the pace
to get Frizzante home by a neck.
As horse and jockey were led back into the winner's enclosure, the sun
appropriately broke through the blackened sky and Fanshawe beamed: "When you
are having a lucky spell things just click into place.
"This has just been fantastic. I think you grow more attached to fillies and
she has been unlucky.
"She was fourth to Patavellian in the Stewards' Cup last year when she was
drawn on the wrong side and flew home. Jamie (Spencer) said then she really was
top class and would go right to the top, and she has proved him correct.
"I have always been allowed to take my time with her. She didn't run as a
two-year-old but won first time at three.
"This time last year she was rated about 80 in handicaps, but she has
improved and improved and is as tough as nails."
Frizzante was sent off favourite for the King's Stand at Royal Ascot, but
suffered trouble in running and had to settle for third place behind The
Tatling.
After the opening race on Thursday, it looked as though circumstance would again be
against her as it was those drawn low who dominated the finish.
"We were drawn high (18) and I thought our chance had gone after the first,"
commented Fanshawe. "But we studied the Bunbury Cup quite closely and saw that
there were one or two who did quite well up the middle, so Johnny said he'd go
that way and it has worked out."
Plans for the five-year-old are fluid and her handler added: "We could go
back to five furlongs at York (for the Nunthorpe), but I think she prefers six
so we could go for the Haydock race (Sprint Cup)."
A delighted Murtagh, who had not ridden a winner on the July course until
Tuesday, added: "I got a lead from Mick Kinane and he brought me to the furlong
and a half. When I pulled her out she picked up well and is a good winner as she
kept going right though the last half furlong.
"She has been running on fast ground over five furlongs which has probably
been a bit too quick for her. But here it worked out well. I think she is a
six-furlong filly and the rain which came last night did help."
Ashdown Express looked like proving a shock winner until being collared by the
victorious in the shadow of the post.
Her trainer Chris Wall said: "He's run a great race and I thought he was
going to win it. I know I'm biased but the starting price was a bit of an
insult. He has beaten many of the horses who were at shorter odds and, on his
form behind Frizzante in the Abernant on the Rowley Mile in the spring, he had
to be thereabouts.
"He is a horse who has to have everything go for him but, when the cards fall
his way, he is a decent sprinter.
"He was in good form today, I don't think he has been quite been able to
really show what he could do earlier on in the season.
"We will now probably have a look at the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville
(August 8)."
Balmont was having his first start of the season for Jeremy Noseda and was
only beaten just over two lengths into third having been a doubtful runner
earlier in the day, according to his trainer.
"That was a huge run considering he has been off for nine months and he was
lame at 5.15 this morning," he said. "We found him cast in his box and it was
touch and go until 11 o'clock whether he ran.
"He has such blinding speed that, while the Sprint Cup is the ideal race, I
see no reason why five furlongs won't be a problem, so he'll go to York next
month for the Nunthorpe."
Cape Of Good Hope has now made the frame on all three of his British starts
and trainer David Oughton had no complaints.
"He ran a super race," he said. "It was not ideal coming over from the
worst draw (20), but there are no excuses. I will take him back to Hong Kong and
give him a break, aiming him at the International meeting in December."
Australian Kerrin McEvoy rode the disappointing favourite and, after only
beating Moss Vale, home said: "He never felt comfortable and never travelled
smoothly."
His trainer Tim Martin added: "It was either the ground of the fact we had to
play catch up after his setback earlier in the year."