3 minute read
Star Catcher justified her place as 7/4 favourite for the £550,000 G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes with a gritty victory.
Her triumph was quick consolation for trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori who were beaten by the narrowest margin of a nose in the preceding race, the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, when Stradivarius lost out to Kew Gardens.
Thirty-five minutes later they were the narrow winners as Star Catcher beat Delphinia (20/1) and Sun Maiden (25/1) by a short head and one length. Gosden's other runner, Oaks winner Anapurna, finished 11th of the 12 runners after holding a good early position.
Sun Catcher's owner/breeder Anthony Oppenheimer, who also raced and bred Derby winner Golden Horn, said his filly would remain in training next year, and added: "We're all thrilled. We were very worried about the ground before the race and didn't think she would go in it, but she has a lot of courage and really pulled on that. It was fantastic effort by her, the trainer and the jockey."
Gosden said: "It was extraordinary to see three fillies fighting it out together, but she was determined to get her head in front and you cannot doubt her courage. She's a wonderful filly and now she can have a winter off.
"She won the Prix Vermeille on fast ground, she won in Ireland on quick ground and now she's won on heavy. The inner track is better than the outer track, but we've had a lot of rain. It's a gorgeous day and these wonderful horses are running, and so far we've had three incredible races.
"You have to remain calm and collected for the horses - you're no damn good if you're jumping around and being neurotic, and when you start saddling them they feel your nerves. That's no good to them. You need to be calm.
He added of Anapurna: "She found it too testing. She lost a shoe and was skidding all the way."