Gutsy Dunelight lands Listed honours

Report: Wolverhampton, Saturday

Williamhill.com Lady Wulfruna Stakes (Listed) 7f, 4yo+

THE Clive Cox-trained Dunelight got back to winning ways with a gutsy success in the Listed Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Ryan Moore: strong ride

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

The 5-1 winner has been running at Meydan this year and only returned from Dubai on Tuesday, although any signsof jetlag were far from obvious as he denied the 11-4 favourite Mia's Boy under a strong Ryan Moore ride.

Lovelace came third at 10-1 for the Mark Johnston-Joe Fanning combination.

Despite finishing no better than sixth in his three starts at Meydan, Dunelight produced a smart performance to secure his first victory since June 2008.

Normally keen to set his own pace, Dunelight seemed happy in second as Moore allowed Abbondanza and Paul Mulrennanto set a searching early gallop that would leave no room for hard-luck stories.

As the field turned for home, Abbondanza's challenge faded and it looked as though the strong-travelling Mia's Boy would warm up forthe William Hill Lincoln on March 27 with a pleasing win.

However, Dunelight rallied gamely to score by half a length.

"He came back from Dubai on Tuesday with the sun on his back and has eaten up well," Cox said.

"I want to say a big thanks to my travelling head man, Steve Saltmarsh, who's done a great job on him in Dubai and he was just appearing to come back to himself.

"He's had a few problems and we've had all last summer off with him. He's a big strong colt and they take a bit of winding up - I'm thrilled."