Group 1 target in France for Vespertilio after she cuts down Dash rivals

Vespertilio vindicated Willie McCreery's decision to drop her to six furlongs when she cut through the field to hold off last year's winner My Mate Alfie in the Listed Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash.

The Night Of Thunder filly was a Group 2 winner over seven furlongs as a juvenile at this track and finished third in last year's French 1,000 Guineas, but McCreery was sceptical of her stamina over such distances despite her high level of form.

Vespertilio was second in Listed company over six furlongs in April and fourth in last month's Greenlands Stakes, showcasing her ability to cope with shorter trips, but Dylan Browne McMonagle adopted more patient tactics on the winner this time. She came with a withering run to hit the front in the last half-furlong and repel My Mate Alfie by a short head, justifying 2-1 favouritism.

"I was disappointed the last day because she needs cover and got none," said McCreery. "She has lots of speed. Dylan was very patient and said when she hit the front she thought she had everything done and pulled herself up. I’m delighted to get her back in the winning mode. 

"She won a Group 2 as a two-year-old and was third in a French Guineas but I never thought she really got home and I didn't think she really got home over seven in the Moyglare [second to Fallen Angel] either. We might go for the Maurice de Gheest [over 6½f at Deauville on August 10] now. She has a French breeder premium so she gets another bonus on top if she does well over there."

Skukuza skips away

The Listed Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes went for export for the first time in ten years as Skukuza barely saw another rival under Ryan Moore to run out an authoritative two-and-a-quarter-length winner at odds of 11-4.

A tough decision to miss Royal Ascot reaped dividends for the Ed Dunlop team as the Blue Point colt made it successive wins at the track, having landed the Emerald Mile Handicap over course and distance last month.

Stable representative Robin Trevor Jones said: "It was a brave decision not to run when you are one of the favourites for the Hunt Cup but the plan has worked. He did everything right and I think the further he went the further he was going to win. 

"He likes coming back here for Classic days so maybe there is something for him on Oaks day!"

Draw can't stop Keke

Eddie Lynam ticked a race off his bucket list as 11-4 favourite Keke dispelled pre-race concerns over stall one to land the Rockingham Handicap by a length from Red Evolution under Billy Lee.

"I trained him for this race but I was worried when I saw the draw on Friday," said Lynam. "It's a race I've always wanted to win as I have a reputation of being a good sprint trainer and I never even got close to winning it.

"When I was a kid in the 60s, my grandmother won the race with Windfield Lily. Her first foal was Conor Pass, who won the Irish Leger for Kevin Prendergast."

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Racing Post+ subscribers. Chris Cook, the reigning Racing Writer of the Year, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Join today