Mill Springs (yellow cap): pulled two and a quarter lengths clear
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
Report: Ascot, Friday
Londonmetric Noel Murless Stakes (Listed Race) 1m6f, 3yo
JOHN GOSDEN set himself up for what could be a monumental weekend for the Newmarket trainer by securing a Listed one-two with Mill Springs beating Secateur in the Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot.
Robert Havlin, aboard Mill Springs, tracked the presumed Gosden first string of Secateur throughout the race as Frankie Dettori attempted to make all, though Havlin brought the Shirocco filly with a withering run on the outside to win by two and a quarter lengths.
On official ratings Mill Springs was 5lb well in yet the 5-1 shot secured a surprise win with favourite backers ending up disappointed with Secateur, while Pin Up finished a further length and a quarter back in third.
High hopes
Gosden won the Listed contest in 2013 with Nichols Canyon, and with other recent winners including Barbican, Biographer and Big Orange, this looked a below-par renewal though Mill Springs proved she is certainly capable of being aimed at loftier heights in the future.
Owner breeder Rebecca Philipps said: “Mill Springs is keeping it in the family as they have all loved Ascot – her half-sister Monturani won a Listed race here and was second in the Windsor Forest.
“John [Gosden] said she had improved from Doncaster and he found her this race. I would like to keep her in training as Monturani won the Group 2 Blandford when she was five.”
Robert Havlin said: “She has done nothing but improve all year and was much the best filly in the race – she travelled really well.”
Gosden’s weekend challenge
The return of Romsdal in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, as well as Martlet and Johnny Barnes contesting Group 2 races in Longchamp precedes Cymric, Jazzi Top and Star of Seville going for Group 1 glory on Sunday.
After all that comes the race of the weekend, or even the season, when Golden Horn attempts to derail the Treve treble bid in the Arc, not forgetting Eagle Top’s participation as well.
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