Dubai Duty Free Stakes
(registered As The Fred Darling Stakes)
Group 3, Newbury 14:05
£85,000 guaranteed,
3yo only, 7f, Class 1  
Saturday 20th April 2024

SureWIn

1 Folgaria 5/1
2 Regal Jubilee 100/30
3 Elmalka 17/2
6 ran Distances: nk, nk, 2¼l
Time: 1m 26.35s (slow by 3.55s)

The Newmarket-based Italian trainer Marco Botti had been grappling with the tragic loss of compatriot Stefano Cherchi, who passed away following a fall in Australia.

Despite the emotional challenges, Folgaria stepped up to the plate. Under the guidance of jockey Hollie Doyle, she dug deep and secured the Grade Three prize at 5-1 odds.

Regal Jubilee, having taken over from Star Music, put up a strong fight, but Folgaria’s determination prevailed. Elmalka also made a late surge, but it was Folgaria who quickened well, seizing the lead and clinching victory by a neck in the closing stages, with Regal Jubilee rallying behind.

This poignant win not only honors Stefano Cherchi’s memory but also showcases Folgaria’s talent. As a juvenile, she had already claimed five consecutive victories in Italy under the guidance of Botti’s brother. Now, on a different stage, she has proven her mettle and brought Italian racing to life once again.

Botti was represented by his wife, Lucie, who said: “It’s very hard to translate the form into English form, but she did nothing wrong in Italy and won all her races fairly easily last year. 

“She’s been pleasing us at home since she joined us and is very straightforward. We absolutely love her, hopefully she can do much better things in the future.

“The immediate plan is likely to be the French Guineas and after that the sky is the limit, she could be an international filly and hopefully not sold too soon for us. She’s very talented, she’s the champion Italian filly and she has showed now she is good enough everywhere else.”

She added: “You couldn’t write this, Andrea (Atzeni) winning the Sydney Cup with Stefano’s parents there and now this filly bringing Italian racing to life again, it is quite special. 

“Marco went to Stefano’s funeral and obviously his brother trained this filly in Italy. Everyone is going to be so pleased, especially in the yard. The winter can be so hard for everyone so it’s always so good to have such beautiful horses and those animals just bring us to life.”

Of the runner-up, Cheveley Park’s Chris Richardson said: “We were thrilled, we were hoping for a bit of cover but it wasn’t going to happen and we were fearful of who would make the running. 

“She has run very well, very game and she loved the ground and the trip was short enough for her. She’s finished very promisingly and the plan will be to go to the (Newmarket) Guineas. 

“I think the extra furlong will suit her hopefully and I think she is a very exciting prospect. I know she hasn’t got a huge amount of scope and we need to get on and run, but she has run very promisingly there.”

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Dubai Duty Free Stakes
£85,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 7f, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Folgaria 3 9-2 Marco Botti Hollie Doyle 5/1
2 (3) nk Regal Jubilee 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark 100/30
3 (2) nk Elmalka 3 9-2 Roger Varian James Doyle 17/2
4 (6) 2¼ Relief Rally 3 9-2 William Haggas Tom Marquand 7/4F
5 (5) 4¼ Topanga 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 16/1
6 (4) 4¾ Star Music 3 9-2 Richard Hughes William Buick 5/1

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