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Enable’s lead horse wins Listed race
Crossed Baton finally enjoyed his day in the spotlight as he highlighted a treble for John Gosden at Lingfield.
The four-year-old is a lead horse for stable star Enable in her work at home, but he was given his chance to shine lining up in the Listed Betway Churchill Stakes.
With stablemate and expected favourite Lord North pulled out on Saturday morning, Frankie Dettori replaced Pierre-Charles Boudot in the saddle, sitting last of the six runners before making his challenge in the final furlong.
Kuwait Currency tried to put up a fight, but Crossed Baton (9-4) was two lengths too good. Pactolus took third with favourite Caradoc only fourth.
Gosden said: "Crossed Baton is one of Enable's main lead horses. He can take her along at a nice pace and then she says 'goodbye'. I think he was completely shocked today that he sat last and then swung around them!
"Crossed Baton has got the ability. I ran him at Epsom the last twice, which probably wasn't the smartest move in the world as that isn't his track.
"He is a grand horse and has a very important role in the stable. We will see how everything unfolds and what our plans are.
"His number one job is being a lead horse, but it would be lovely to bring him back here if he's in good form and Enable isn't in fast work at the time."
Dettori added: "The plan was to make the running! But he jumped awkwardly and nearly ripped my boot off. I had to switch to plan B, ride him for luck, and fortunately he came good for me.
"This poor fella has to see Enable's bum every day, so it is nice to get his head in front for once."
Scentasia had initiated a Listed double for the Clarehaven team with a comfortable victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Gillies Fillies' Stakes.
Dettori opted to kick on at the top of the straight having settled in behind in the early stages and the 11-8 favourite had one and three-quarter lengths in hand from Velma Valento at the line, with Ojooba back in third.
Gosden said: "Scentasia was keen as she tried to get a position, but Frankie managed to settle her. I had worried about the mile and a quarter, but Frankie is confident that the trip is perfect for her.
"We will back off her now and come back in the spring. She will be comfortable over a mile and a mile and a quarter when she can use her big stride."
The Jim Crowley-ridden Alrajaa (8-11 favourite) also struck for Gosden in the Bombardier Golden Beer Handicap.
"He is a horse we will freshen up now and then we could look at the programme here to see if we are good enough for the Good Friday races," added Gosden.
Judicial sprang a 20-1 surprise as he came from last to first in the Betway Golden Rose Stakes, the other Listed event on a classy card at the Surrey venue.
Julie Camacho's charge was conceding weight all round in the six-furlong contest and had to make his run widest of all, but he rose to the task, accelerating inside the final furlong to claim a stylish one-and-three-quarter-length win over Tinto with plenty seemingly still in reserve.
Assistant trainer Steve Brown, who led Judicial down to the start, said: "It looked good from a distance at the side of the course!
"He has been immense for us and the Elite Racing Club. I am thrilled with him.
"He is not a horse who appreciates being over raced, so we are selective of our targets. We probably have not been selective enough sometimes and next year it will be Group Three and Listed races only over a stiff five or easy six.
"The intention now is to come back here for Good Friday. He will have a rest now and, provided all goes well, you will see him then."