Cape Verdi took Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation back to the top with a scintillating five length defeat of Aidan O'Brien's Shahtoush in yesterday's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Doubts about whether the team Godolphin had flown from their winter quarters in Dubai were up to much deepened with the eclipse of their representatives in Saturday's 2,000.
Those doubts deepened to such an extent that Cape Verdi drifted out to 100 to 30 joint favouritism with the French filly Loving Claim and had the betting pundit John McCririck declaring her the worst value classic favourite he'd ever seen! The answer was clean and quick. Frankie Dettori, riding his first 1,000 Guineas winner, sent Cape Verdi to the front at the two furlong marker and the filly, bought by Sheikh Mohammed from Robert Sangster last autumn, quickly had the race sewn up.
Shahtoush ran a fine race to try and give O'Brien and Michael Kinane a historic Guineas double. Racing on the outside of the field just off the pace, she just couldn't match the devastating acceleration of the winner and ultimately did well to just short head Exclusive and Cloud Castle for the runner up spot. "That was a great run and the winner looks something special. I'm delighted. She'll go for the Irish 1,000 Guineas and she's a half sister to an Oaks runner up so the Epsom Oaks is a possible too," said O'Brien while Kinane commented: "She's run a blinder and the first horse was just too good for us."
It was a different story for the other Irish runner Tarascon who finished last after getting very upset in the stalls.
Dettori had no such difficulties and immediately rated Cape Verdi with any of the top horses he has ridden in the past. "She is so cool and calm. She walked into the stalls like it was a morning work out, ran her race, pulled up and then walked back like nothing had happened. That's amazing, especially in a filly. Usually horses have some sort of kink but she is so professional. I got to the bushes and I had everybody stretched and she galloped right out to the line," the Italian, who now needs the Derby to complete his British classic clean sweep, said.
He made it sound easy but the hug he gave Cape Verdi in the winners enclosure reflected a certain relief.
The bookmakers slashed Cape Verdi down to as low as 7 to 4 for the Oaks where she could again clash with Shahtoush and Cloud Castle who finished fourth.
Typically it was Dettori who had the last word. "I feel a little emotional - in the last couple of days I've hardly had one placed. But it's a long road to November, we've only just started over the last few days. Don't write Godolphin off yet!" he declared. With Cape Verdi in their yard, it will be hard to.
