2012 Cherry Hinton

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Lucky Kristale is Duchess of Cambridge Queen
12/07/13

1 Lucky Kristale 20/1
2 Rizeena 11/10 Fav
3 Queen Catrine 7/1
8 ran Distances: 2¼l, ¾l, ½l
TIME 1m 10.76s (slow by 0.56s)

Lucky Kristale caused a major upset by claiming the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket for trainer George Margarson and jockey Tom Queally.

Lucky Kristale
© Racehorse Photos

A winner on Newmarket's Rowley Mile course on debut before following up at Yarmouth, the two-year-old had seemingly had her limitations exposed when a creditable sixth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sent off at 20-1 for this Group Two assignment, a race formerly known as the Cherry Hinton, Lucky Kristale moved into the race stylishly and once let down by Queally she showed smart acceleration to put the race to bed.

Margarson's charge came home with two and a quarter lengths to spare over the hard-driven 11-10 favourite Rizeena, winner of Ascot's Queen Mary Stakes last month.

Queally said: "She did it very well. There was a good even tempo, so I was content to sit just a little bit off the pace. They went very fast in the Albany at Ascot and she was always to the fore that day. George just said we should take our time today, use her turn of foot and she utilized that very well.

"She's got the scope to improve some more, so she's an exciting prospect. I keep saying George is a good trainer. Once he gets the ammunition, he's as good as anybody."

Margarson said: "People didn't realise how upset I was at Royal Ascot. This filly works with everything - she's just a machine. Tom knew she was a machine, Ryan (Moore) knew she was and then she bounced the gates at Ascot and Graham (Lee) did the right thing, but she didn't get home. Ridden like this, she's a machine.

"When you win a Group Two like that it's great and there's no doubt a Group One is just around the corner for her. This filly is so laid back. She's a pleasure to train."

Asked about plans Margarson added: "There's Deauville, but she's not a filly I'm in a rush with so we'll leave it open. I think she could be a Guineas filly next year."

Clive Brittain said of Rizeena: "She tried hard but she was sort of lugging to the left and not quite going through. Take no credit away from the winner, though. There'll be other days, and we might look at the Moyglare now."

Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (Sponsored By Betfred)
(Formerly The Cherry Hinton Stakes) (Fillies' Group 2)
£80,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm (Watered)