Dettori opens Ascot account on Grandera
Wednesday, 19 June 2002 16:19Frankie Dettori opened his account at the Royal meeting when cruising home on Grandera in the Prince of Wales's Stakes to give owners Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor their third successive win in the Group One contest. The four-year-old, a 4-1 shot, romped clear of the opposition in the final furlong to score by five lengths from Indian Creek (25-1) with the 7-2 favourite Banks Hill back in third.
Godolphin's pacemaker Sydenham set a strong gallop and held the lead until the turn for home. Banks Hill and Nayef made their bids for glory inside the final quarter mile but Dettori had them covered and as soon as he asked Grandera for his effort the race was over.
"We've found the key to him now - fast ground and a strong pace. We put a pacemaker in there just to make sure it was a strong pace and he had everybody beaten," a thrilled Dettori told the BBC.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
