NEWS
Creachadoir earns first Group 1 win in Juddmonte Lockinge
Posted: Saturday, May 17, 2008 4:14 PM
CREACHADOIR
Racing Post photo
by Tony Smurthwaite
Godolphin struck at Group 1 level in Europe for the first time this year when Creachadoir, under a determined Frankie Dettori, won the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Eng-G1) on Saturday at Newbury.
The four-year-old King’s Best colt was returning to Great Britain after races in Hong Kong and Dubai and may be pointed to the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-G1) on June 17 at Royal Ascot.
Despite a dismal eighth to Jay Peg in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) on March 20 in his previous race and a quiet start for other Godolphin runners since the team's return to Europe in April, Creachadoir was favored heavily by bettors over Haradasun, the highly regarded Australian champion making his Northern Hemisphere debut with trainer Aidan O'Brien.
None of the 11 runners on the straight mile on turf rated as good wanted to make the pace, so the early stages were almost farcical and set up a frantic finale.
Dettori asked for Creachadoir’s effort 1 1/2 furlongs from the finish line and gained an immediate reaction from Creachadoir in what was his seventh Group 1 start.
The 3-to-1 favorite shot into a clear lead to win conclusively while Juddmonte Farm's Chester House colt Phoenix Tower stayed on for second, three-quarters of a length back. Tariq, winner of the Betfair Cup (Eng-G2) at Goodwood last summer, finished a neck back in third.
“He worked very well last week and I was nervous as I thought if he runs like he works, then he will win,” Dettori said of the winner. “He will be a force to be reckoned with this year in all the mile races.”
Winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor said Creachadoir is stronger than last season, which he began in Ireland with trainer Jim Bolger before being purchased by Godolphin. He is a half brother to Group 1 winner Youmzain, runner-up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-G1) in October.
“There is no plan [for his next start], but we may take Creachadoir to Royal Ascot for the Queen Anne,” bin Suroor said. “Hopefully, this race will help him to settle down a little bit as he was very fresh beforehand.”
Phoenix Tower, trained by Henry Cecil, may also contest in the Queen Anne or could be moved up to 1 1/4 miles during for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Eng-G1) on June 18.
Haradasun, who finished sixth, seemed to be hampered by the early dawdle in a race run in a time of 1:38.70, more than five seconds slower than the track record.
Bred in Ireland by Frank Dunne, Creachadoir is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Sadima. He improved to four wins in 14 career starts.
Tony Smurthwaite, a British-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent, is a writer for Racing Post
