Andrea Atzeni rode the biggest winner of his career so far at Capannelle
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Atzeni lands first Group 1 in Lydia Tesio in Rome
Report: Italy, Sunday
Capannelle: Premio Lydia Tesio Longines (Group 1) 1m2f, turf, 3yo+ f/m
ANDREA ATZENI rode the biggest winner of his career when partnering German-trained Sortilege (Andreas Wohler) to a length victory over Italian star Cherry Collect.
RELATED LINKS
Frankie Dettori could finish only fourth on the Godolphin-owned Sajjhaa (Saeed bin Suroor), having held every chance when hitting the front approaching the final furlong.
The other British challenger, Opera Gal, made the running until headed by Sajjhaa and finished seventh, a place behind Jamie Spencer on another German challenger, Cartaya.
A grinning Atzeni, who rode winners at Wolverhampton on Thursday and Friday and was partnering Sortilege for the first time, said: "She was very good today and responded every time I asked her."
Atzeni was happy to sit towards the rear on Sortlige before making his ground steadily to hit the front inside the final furlong and hold off the late charge of Cherry Collect, with Nova Hawk a further length away third, a short head in front of Sajjhaa.
Sortilege won a Listed race at Strasbourg last time out but had been beaten ten lengths and more in her two previous attempts in Group company, both of them in France in races won by No Risk At All and Snow Fairy.
Runner-up Cherry Collect had won the Italian 1,000 Guineas and Oaks earlier this season and this race represented the final leg of Italy's fillies' Triple Crown.
Also on Sunday
Capannelle: Premio Ubaldo Pandolfi (Listed) 6f, turf, 2yo fillies.
Charles O'Brien saddled Lottie Dod (Dario Vargiu) to finished third against six rivals, having been prominent throughout and holding every chance when not quickening with the first two 300 yards out.
She stayed on inside the final furlong but was beaten a short neck and four lengths behind Girl Of The Rain (Stefano Botti/Cristian Demuro), who had been third behind Mick Channon's Sandreamer in a similar race at San Siro last month.
Comments