Dettori wins on Schiaparelli

With Yeats gone, could this be the next staying champ?

Godolphin grab Group 1 glory with Schiaparelli


Report: Italy, Sunday

San Siro: Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d'Oro (Group 1) 1m4f

FRANKIE DETTORI has had to wait longer than anticipated, but on Sunday he rode his first Group 1 winner of 2009 when guiding Godolphin's Schiaparelli to victory in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d'Oro in Italy.

The 46-100 favourite had won the same race in 2007 and made all for an untroubled one-and-three-quarter-lengths success from the big-priced Sant'Antoniom with Voila Ici in third. It was no surprise to see Dettori celebrate with a flying dismount in the San Siro winner's enclosure.

It was Schiaparelli's third big-race win this year, following the Goodwood Cup and the Prix Kergorlay, but he may not be done with yet.

Dettori said: "I'm delighted. I've won a Group 1 race every year since 1990 so Richard Hills and Johnny Murtagh have been taking the piss for the past three months.

"I was running out of bullets so Schiaparelli has got me out of the shit. It's great to win this race as it is like the equivalent of the King George and now I've won it five times."

Winning trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: "We will not make any decision until we see how he is when he gets home but, if he comes back well, he could run in the Prix Royal-Oak [next Sunday at Longchamp.

"He enjoyed his run and Frankie rode him very well."

Vittorio Caruso, who trains Voila Ici, was keen not to allow the winner to have everything his own way. Voila Ici was within two lengths with a quarter of a mile to race but was soon struggling. Sant'Antonio, who still had five or six lengths to make up entering the final furlong, was able to catch him in the last strides.

Schiaparelli was a ninth top-level win for Godolphin this year, all of them having come since Seventh Street set the ball rolling at Saratoga on August 2.

Dettori chose to ride Kite Wood, who finished second, when Mastery won the Group 1 Ladbrokes St Leger under Ted Durcan for Godolphin in September, while Ahmed Ajtebi was in the saddle when Gladiatorus returned to top form in winning the Group 1 Premio Vittorio di Capua at San Siro eight days ago.

Dettori will look be looking to double up in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday when Godolphin intend to run the highly promising Al Zir. Focus will then switch to the Breeders' Cup meeting on November 6 and 7, when Dettori is expected to partner Delegator in the Mile.

Dettori added: "I'm looking forward to riding Al Zir in the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday and have a few rides to look forward to at the Breeders' Cup, but let's celebrate this one first."

As well as the win on Schiaparelli, Dettori finished fourth on German-trained Parisella in the Group 3 Premio Dormello after making much of the running.

Stefano Botti saddled the first three in the Dormello with Blessed Luck (7.79-1), Nantha and Cronsa.