'She's a stronger model this year' - Cinderella's Dream joins Godolphin party with Dahlia success

It wasn't beach weather on the Rowley Mile but Cinderella's Dream took the first step on a return trip to 'where the turf meets the surf' when landing the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes in commanding fashion.

The daughter of Shamardal had her work companion Beautiful Love to aim at as she sat last of the five runners before moving into contention passing the Bushes under William Buick and going clear to leave last year's 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka in her wake.

The success was a second in the race for Charlie Appleby after the Buick-ridden Wuheida scored in 2018 and the winner has a long-term aim of avenging her narrow defeat in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar in November.

Appleby said: "She's a stronger model this year and since she came back from Dubai it's surprised me how much she has thrived and strengthened. We took her to Dubai to do all that and she didn't really, but her work had been good prior to this.

"Her lead horse is Beautiful Love, so we knew when she was still in the mix I thought all Will had to do was give her the office. As Will said himself it's not often you head into the Dip with a double handful but that's what he had today."

He added: "The grand plan would be the Filly & Mare at the Breeders' Cup, where she was a bit unlucky last year. We'll see whether we take in a race or two here before then, but we'll take her to the US for one race before Del Mar."

Last year Cinderella's Dream won twice in the US before her Breeders' Cup appearance and the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga in July could be an option.

On runner-up Elmalka, trainer Roger Varian said: "Hats off to the winner but we always thought we'd improve for the run. We'll see where we go next but she could well be a mile-and-a-quarter horse on this ground and a miler on the soft."

Falakeyah pretty good

Discretion proved to be the better part of valour for those involved with Falakeyah, who had been impressing her jockey Jim Crowley so much at home that he had floated the idea of a 1,000 Guineas bid.

In the end, the Listed Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes was chosen for the once-raced Shadwell filly and she blew the race apart with a powerful display from the front.

Falakeyah comes home well clear under Jim Crowley in the Pretty Polly StakesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Going beyond the 1m2f trip is unlikely for the daughter of New Bay, perhaps not surprisingly given Crowley’s pre-race thoughts, and trainer Owen Burrows said: “You have to be very impressed with her.

“There was no real plan but she’s a big, strong filly who set her own fractions and did it the hard way. She changed her legs in the Dip, which she was entitled to do, and she’s clearly very exciting.

“We’ll have to talk with Shadwell, but Jim said a mile and a half would be far enough for her. I wouldn’t be telling everyone to back her for the Oaks just yet. The Prix de Diane would be possible as a mile and a half might be a bit far.”

Spicy start for Bell filly

A week and a half before she lined up at Newmarket, Spicy Marg marked herself out to trainer Michael Bell as being something a little bit different.

Plenty appeared to have heard about her too, as the filly was supported in from 10-1 overnight to as short as 13-8 to win the 5f fillies’ novice before easing a little to 7-2 at the off.

Spicy Marg (Kieran Shoemark) wins the 5f fillies' novice for Michael BellCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Carrying the colours of Emma Banks, Spicy Marg proved to be everything the market suggested she would be, scoring by two and three-quarter lengths.

Bell said: “She did a nice piece of work ten days ago when she quickened up very nicely, so we were hopeful coming here today. I trained her dam and when I saw this filly at the sales I was never going to be beaten in buying her. She’ll go for the Marygate next.

“I’ve also got a very nice Havana Grey filly who’s come in from the breeze-up and she looks useful, so I think we have a strong hand with our two-year-olds this year.”

Crowds up

The Sunday attendance was 11,745, a 4.6 per cent increase on last year. Overall, 33,425 attended Newmarket across the Guineas meeting, up ten per cent.

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