Campanelle claims Morny honours

Horse Racing

PA Sport Reporters
August 23, 2020 1:00 pm

Dettori and Ward strike Deauville gold.

Campanelle maintained her unbeaten record as she ran out a ready winner of the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville.

Trained by American Wesley Ward, who was winning the Group One for a third time following the victories of No Nay Never and Lady Aurelia, she beat a strong-looking field with a modicum of ease.

Typically quick through the early stages of the race, Frankie Dettori was keen to head towards the centre of the track.

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Dettori, who opted to miss the Ebor meeting to ride in France over the last two weekends, appeared to wait for the others a furlong out before asking the Queen Mary winner to quicken up.

And she did so, in impressive fashion, handling the switch up to six furlongs and soft ground in style.

Clive Cox’s Nando Parrado, a shock 150-1 winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, stuck to the rail with only Tactical following, and kept on well to claim a creditable second.

Richard Fahey’s Rhythm Master ran a big race to take third, but the Queen’s Tactical finished out of the frame.

Dettori told Sky Sports Racing: “I was very impressed with her in the Queen Mary. She’s not like Lady Aurelia, she was small and very fast.

“She’s much taller, she’s grown since Ascot, she’s got an amazing, long stride and while she coped with the ground, she’s much better on good ground.

“Wesley was very confident. I knew I had a good filly, but I was worried about the ground – her class came through.

“She’s been here all week, I’ve seen her every day and, being honest, she’s half asleep in the box, but she knows what it’s all about and was ready to go.

“I had no plan, she jumped so I was in front and she’s quite sensible and able to listen to my commands. When I asked her to slow down she did, and when I asked her to quicken, she quickened. She’s a very smart two-year-old.

“The Cheveley Park is an obvious target and I’m sure the idea of the Breeders’ Cup over a mile might come into it, but over a mile, that’s a different ball game.

“I’ve had a fantastic week with some great results.”