Sport

Haatef sprints to Diamed glory

Kevin Prendergast's Haatef won the Group Two John Guest Diamed Stakes at Ascot yesterday

Mon Oct 01 2007 - 01:00

Kevin Prendergast's Haatef won the Group Two John Guest Diamed Stakes at Ascot yesterday. Tenth in Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance, Haatef has found his niche over shorter distances and tanked along under Richard Hills, riding him for the first time.

The majority of the pack switched to the far side of the course and while Beckermet, Dark Missile and then Assertive sought to make winning moves, the 8 to 1 chance just got up in the dying strides to prevail by a short head.

"I watched him in the Guineas and I know he was really fancied in that," reported Hills. "Kevin said the cut in the ground would help and to take your time with him.

"We had our luck because the speed was on the outside, and that also helped. He's showed he's going to be a good sprinter and I'd stay there (at that distance)."

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Meanwhile, Curtain Call was slashed in price for Classic glory next term with a barnstorming success in the Group Two Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

This was a tremendous effort from the son of Sadler's Wells, who was previously a maiden in three starts. He did, however, finish second to New Approach in the Futurity Stakes, which was enough to see him sent off the 9 to 2 second favourite in this one-mile heat.

Curtain Call, trained by Jessica Harrington, emphatically vindicated his price-tag with this all-the-way triumph in the hands of Fran Berry.

Berry took a gaping chasm out of the field within a heartbeat and had four lengths in hand of Domestic Fund at the line.

Harrington said: "He's in the Racing Post Trophy but we don't about that yet."

Even-money favourite Lizard Island ran no sort of race and finished well adrift of the winner, who was halved by Cashmans in the betting for next year's Epsom Derby. The Irish firm now go 33s from 66 to 1 about Curtain Call securing Classic glory on June 7th. William Hill offer 20-1 about him winning the 2000 Guineas - and 20s for the Derby.

Mick Channon initiated another Irish heist when West Ilsley raider Eva's Request won the Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes.