Monday, 26 July 2010: Mark Johnston enjoyed Group 1 success in Germany on Sunday when Lady Jane Digby recorded a surprise victory in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich on Sunday - in the process giving jockey Greg Fairley the first Group 1 win of his career.
After only a moderate gallop, owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing's five-year-old daughter of Oasis Dream was produced with a determined effort at the furlong marker by Fairley.
She went on to notch the seventh win of her career by a length over local hope Night Magic, with Godolphin's Alexandros another length and a half back in third as the 19-10 favourite.
Third last time out in the Lancashire Oaks, Lady Jane Digby had landed her only previous Group-race victory in Germany, having scored at Bremen in August 2009.
Trainer Mark Johnston revealed that the winner had overcome a serious injury at the end of 2009.
"I've trained several of the family and this is absolutely fantastic," said Johnston, who was at Ascot, where he saddled two winners.
"She got a freak injury in October or November last year, when she broke the point of her hip.
"She went home to her owner Kirsten Rausing, and the vast majority of owners would have retired her, but Kirsten phoned me in the spring to say that she was galloping around the paddock and that she should come back to me.
"Kirsten wanted us to have a Group 1 plan and that was the EP Taylor Stakes in Canada," he added.
"We were hoping to win a Group 1 with her, but we didn't think it would come in the middle of the year. It was actually Kirsten's idea to go to Germany. She said she could feel it in her bones.
"This was a bit of a shot in the dark, but she is a consistent, tough horse," added Johnston, who is already looking further afield.
"Next up will be the Arlington Million and then it will be on to the EP Taylor after that," he said.
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