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Quadrilateral 5-1 for 1,000 Guineas glory after digging deep to remain unbeaten

Quadrilateral (left) reels in Powerful Breeze (second left) with Love (right) finishing third in the bet365 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket
Quadrilateral (left) reels in Powerful Breeze (second left) with Love (right) finishing third in the bet365 Fillies' Mile at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

A daring dart up the far rail by Jason Watson meant Quadrilateral maintained her unbeaten record in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies' Mile, her young jockey's first British Group 1 success.

Quadrilateral's vault to the top of the juvenile fillies' pole has been rapid, with the daughter of Frankel only beginning her career in August.

Three runs and three wins later she is a Group 1 heroine and general 5-1 favourite for next season's Qipco 1,000 Guineas.

Quadrilateral already occupied the Guineas box seat after an 11-length romp on her second Newbury outing, but the step into Group 1 company provided an altogether sterner test.

After being off the bridle heading into the Dip, Quadrilateral appeared in trouble. Chasing the leaders into the final furlong, space started to become a premium as the wearying Boomer drifted towards the rail, with Powerful Breeze taking over and also heading in the same direction.

You beauty: Jason Watson admits Quadrilateral 'got me out of trouble'
You beauty: Jason Watson admits Quadrilateral 'got me out of trouble'Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

However, Quadrilateral was brave enough to surge up the rail inside the final 100 yards to beat Powerful Breeze by a head with Moyglare winner Love staying on for third.

It was only last summer that Watson burst into the mainstream consciousness with a Stewards' Cup win on Gifted Master, and the significance of his latest big win was still sinking in nearly an hour later.

"It's a big fairytale, I can't believe it," he said. "I'm only 19 and haven't experienced a lot yet. I haven't ridden in many Group 1s and I'm so grateful for getting the opportunities from the guv'nor and Khalid Abdullah [owner].

"She's a very talented filly and I'd say she got me out of trouble. She's very tough and it's the first time she's had a proper race."

Watson's guv'nor, trainer Roger Charlton, is finishing 2019 with a flourish, as Quadrilateral became his second Group 1 winner of the season after Aspetar's recent success in Germany, with Watson in the saddle on that occasion as well.

Roger Charlton: 'She kept responding and fought like a good 'un and it was a great effort really'
Roger Charlton: 'She kept responding and fought like a good 'un and it was a great effort really'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Reflecting on his latest top-level success, the trainer said: "Two or even three furlongs out I thought we're not running well; we're coming off the bridle and it's not going to happen. She kept responding and fought like a good 'un and it was a great effort really."

A supplementary fee of £40,000 was needed to add Quadrilateral to the field, and Charlton was pleased to have been persuaded into going for glory.

He added: "The easier option was to go for the Oh So Sharp. I was thinking it's not often good fillies come along, we could go and win that and keep the dream open for May rather than taking on the best. Management encouraged me [to go for the Fillies' Mile] and the result was good."

The 1,000 Guineas remains the target for Quadrilateral, in which runner-up Powerful Breeze could await again.

The latter's jockey James Doyle said: "She's done nothing wrong and maybe we were out in front a bit too long, but that is another step forward.

"She's a Group 1 filly all right and I would imagine we'll be back here for the 1,000 Guineas."


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David BaxterReporter

Published on 11 October 2019inReports

Last updated 17:51, 11 October 2019

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