racing_news/

Natagora Storms to Cheveley Park Stakes Victory
05/10/07

1st (10) Natagora 7-2
2nd (5) Fleeting Spirit 7-2
3rd (4) Festoso 33-1
14 ran

After 25 years of trying, trainer Pascal Bary finally saddled his first winner at Newmarket when Natagora proved herself one of Europe’s best juvenile fillies when capturing the skybet.com Cheveley Park Stakes.

“I’ve probably been trying to win a race here for 25 years, so I’m very pleased,“ said Bary. “I’ve come close a few times but always been second, including with Six Perfections in the 1000 Guineas when I thought she was going to win. I love Newmarket and was assistant to Sir Mark Prescott here for a year.

“Natagora has run seven times this year and I don’t think she’ll be out again this season, she probably needs to be put away now. But maybe we will be back here for the Guineas next year, I hope she will get a mile. Today she has shown that she is the best two-year-old filly in Europe.“

Natagora is as short as 10/1 with Coral and Cashmans for next year’s Stan James 1000 Guineas but jockey Christophe Lemaire is far from convinced she will see out the mile trip.

“She has a lot of natural speed so it is difficult to think she will stay a mile,“ said Lemaire. “I am sure her trainer will try and make her stay but he will have a hard job.

“The plan was to settle her in behind but unfortunately all the jockeys were thinking each other would go to the front so I let her gallop and she relaxed well in front.

“She is very easy to ride and can go at the pace I want to go. She quickened very well in the last furlong and a half and was generous enough to keep going well.

“Her performances from the beginning were very good, she broke the record in the Prix Robert Papin, has won the Cheveley Park now and is one of the best two-year-olds in the world. She doesn’t like the soft and is even better on fast ground.“

The successful groom Gildas Pouive received a cheque for £500 from sponsors skybet.com

NOSEDA PLEASED WITH RUNNER-UP FLYING SPIRIT

Trainer Jeremy Noseda was very satisfied with the effort of Fleeting Spirit, who finished the neck runner-up behind Natagora in the Group One skybet.com Cheveley Park Stakes.

The Invincible Spirit filly finished some four lengths clear of third-placed Festoso in the six-furlong contest for juvenile fillies.

Jeremy Noseda said: “That was a great run and it has fully vindicated our decision to come here.

“We couldn’t ask for more and she was beaten by a good filly. If you had said to me that we would be beaten a neck by the winner and finish four lengths clear of the rest before the race, I would have been very satisfied.

“Obviously, I am disappointed she hasn’t won but she ran a huge race and owes us nothing.

“She is entered in the December Sales - we will have to wait and see what the plan is for her.”

Jockey Frankie Dettori added: “She is a very honest filly with a big heart.”

FESTOSO COULD LINE UP IN GUINEAS

Harry Dunlop might not have won the skybet.com Cheveley Park Stakes with Festoso, but in finishing third with the Diesis filly, the fledgling trainer could not have been happier.

He said of his first Group One runner: “I am delighted and absolutely thrilled. It is fantastic to finish third at this level in a Group One race.

“Eddie said that she was just changing her legs and the ground was fast enough and, with a bit more give, she could be better still.

“I think we’ll go for a trial next year and then the 1000 Guineas back here. Seven furlongs for the trial would be the obvious thing to do. She obviously likes Newmarket and stays on up the hill.”

Festoso’s rider Eddie Ahern told connections: “Seven furlongs would be ideal. During the race, she would hop on to one leg and then hop on to the other and go back again.

“During the last furlong, she was tearing and she also got a smack across the head during the race.”

NO VISIT TO WINNER’S ENCLOSURE FOR STOUTE

The 11/4 favourite Visit was only able to manage eighth position. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: “She hasn’t run to her form today - disappointing.”