Godolphin Racing’s Stiletto clinches a thriller in Sale

Stiletto’s first win came in her second race in December last year when she won the Fineweld Stainless Steel Plate in Mornington.

By James Jose (senior Reporter)

Published: Mon 15 Jun 2015, 1:55 PM

Last updated: Wed 8 Jul 2015, 2:53 PM

Abu Dhabi: Godolphin Racing’s Stiletto won the Duart Homestead Bm70 Handicap in Sale, Australia, on Sunday, for her third victory in six starts.

The three-year-old daughter of Lonhro, won the thrilling six-furlong race by a head over Heza Dude. Stiletto, trained by John O’Shea and the ride of Patrick Moloney, started off well and was in the lead pack soon enough. She then challenged for the lead and then took over with one-and-half furlongs to go.

She faced a stiff challenge from Heza Dude, trained by Udyta Clarke and ridden by Jake Noonan, but held on to win the contest.

Stiletto’s first win came in her second race in December last year when she won the Fineweld Stainless Steel Plate in Mornington. Her previous victory was in the Zoustar Standing @ Woodside F&M BM64 Handicap in Kyneton this April.

O’Shea and Moloney had earlier combined to guide Rillito to third in the Oxford Landing 2yo Fillies Maiden Plate, also at Sale.

Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday, Basem, the charge of Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by James Doyle, won the Winner Sports Handicap in Sandown, UK. Basem, the four-year-old son of Pivotal, who had won the King’s Stand Stakes and Nunthorpe Stakes back in 1996, kept pace with the leaders in fifth before making her move with a furlong left before clinching it. Basem won over Jacob Black, trained by Keith Dalgleish and ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Godolphin Racing’s Pallister, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Dubai World Cup-winning jockey William Buick, was 11^th. It was Basem’s third win in five starts with his previous win too coming at Sandown last August where he had won the ROA Owners Jackpot Handicap (Bobis Race). He had begun with a maiden win in Newmarket where he clinched the Swan At Lavenham Wood Ditton Stakes (Bobis Race), last April.

He had a second place finish in Beverley in the British Stallion Studs Brantingham EBF Conditions Stakes, last May.

Meanwhile, in Leicester, UK, New Strategy, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and the ride of James McDonald, was second in the Cream Gorse Handicap, while in Belmont Park, USA, Fitzgerald finished third in the Maiden Special Weight. Fitzgerald is trained by Thomas Albertrani and ridden by Luis Saez.

james@khaleejtimes.com