Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes
horse racing tipster
Group 2, Newbury 14:50
£75,000 added,
2yo only,
6f 8y, Class 1   
Saturday 23rd September 2017

1 James Garfield 100/30
2 Invincible Army 5/2F
3 Nebo 15/2
9 ran NR: Helvetian Distances: ¾l, ½l, 3½l
Time: 1m 10.64s (slow by 0.34s)

Scott lives the American dream following Garfield's Newbury triumph

James Garfield
© Racehorse Photos
James Garfield

Agonisingly beaten on the line in the Acomb Stakes at York, James Garfield was sent off 100-30 to go one better and Frankie Dettori made no mistake.

Running in the colours of Bill Gredley, who is trainer George Scott's new father-in-law, James Garfield burst clear with a furlong to run.

The 5-2 favourite Invincible Army came out of the pack to challenge, but this time James Garfield was not to be denied.

The Exceed And Excel colt had three-quarters of a length in hand over the favourite as they crossed the line.

Dettori told ITV Racing: "The owner is a good friend of mine and I'd like to say congratulations to George as he only got married last weekend.

"Over a few glasses of champagne, he was telling me how this horse was going to win today and he was absolutely right.

"He's a funny horse, he just got touched off at York but now I think he's off to America.

"He stays seven, but this was a good opportunity over six. This is George's biggest win."

Scott said: "We went away for a couple of days in Majorca, but we are going on a proper honeymoon in January. I got married a week ago today so it has been a pretty amazing week. 

"He has danced every dance this year and has been unlucky on several occasions. He has shown it over five, six and seven furlongs now, so he is a pretty versatile horse. He has improved physically the whole time and I am slightly lost for words really. 

"It was all pretty smooth for Frankie. He said he was where he wanted to be, although he lost his position, he had plenty of horse and hit the line great - it was dream stuff really. 

"We will go to the Breeders' Cup now. The Breeders' Cup has always been the race we've been wanting to go to. 

"Exceed And Excels have always gone great out there, he has got tactical speed and he will get a tight mile. Since he sat on him at York, Frankie has always been keen to go to the Breeders' Cup. If he ran in the first four here, that was the plan. 

"He has made hay this year. People might think he is just a two-year-old, but he has grown and strengthened and put on plenty of condition. There is no reason why he can't keep progressing. 

"I would imagine he would go for a seven-furlong trial (next year), then we have the two options, we can either go up to a mile or come back to six for the Commonwealth Cup." 

Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Invincible Army's owner Saeed Manana, felt the James Tate-trained colt had not enjoyed the best of runs. 

He said: "He was unlucky. In several positions he was unlucky. It happens and it is not the first time. He ran very well. He is a pretty good horse that tries hard. We are just a bit disappointed. 

"George has had the Group Two winner, but it would have been nice to see James have it, but it will come." 

Charlie Hills was satisfied with Nebo's effort in third as he bounced back from a disappointing run in the Gimcrack. 

He said: "It was not a good draw and Ryan (Moore) was surprised how well he picked up. He has had a bit of a stop-start preparation so he has had a nice enough blow. 

"We will probably look to seven furlongs. We will look to go again."

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Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2)
£75,000 added, 2yo only, 6f 8y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good

Pos Dr D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (3) James Garfield (IRE) 10/3 L Dettori
9-1
George Scott 2
2nd (7) ¾ Invincible Army (IRE) 5/2f M Harley
9-1
J Tate 2
3rd (1) ½ Nebo (IRE) 15/2 R L Moore
9-1
C Hills 2
4th (8) Lansky (IRE) 15/2 J P Spencer
9-1
J Noseda 2
5th (2) ¾ Grand Koonta (IRE) 9/1 A Kirby
9-1
C G Cox 2
6th (9) ½ Staxton 14/1 D Allan
9-1
T D Easterby 2
7th (4) ¾ Rebel Streak 50/1 David Probert
9-1
A M Balding 2
8th (6) 5 No I'm Easy (IRE) 25/1 R Kingscote
9-1
Tom Dascombe 2
9th (10) nse Enjazaat 11/2 Jim Crowley
9-1
Owen Burrows 2
NR (5) Helvetian Charles Bishop
9-1
M R Channon 2

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