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Signora Cabello justifies swerving Super Sprint as she strikes for Quinn

Signora Cabello (L Dettori) winning the Darley Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) from Sexy Metro (3).Maisons-Laffitte 22.07.18pic - focusonracing.com
Signora Cabello winning the Darley Prix Robert PapinCredit: Focusonracing

Report: France, Sunday

Maisons-Laffitte: Darley Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) 5½f | 2yo | Turf

John Quinn's decision to reroute Signora Cabello from the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Saturday to Sunday's Group 2 Prix Robert Papin paid off when she was driven home by Frankie Dettori.

The Queen Mary winner, who runs in the colours of Phoenix Thoroughbred and Zen Racing, held on to deny Sexy Metro, providing British trainers with their fifth straight win in the race that set Special Duty, Natagora and Divine Proportions on their way to Classic glory.

A daughter of Camacho, Signora Cabello was having her fifth outing of 2018 and she broke well, racing just off the Robert Cowell-trained Pocket Dynamo, who also had Royal Ascot form after finishing second in the Norfolk.

Dettori began to push away on her, as the Karl Burke-trained True Mason loomed alongside, knuckling down to land the £65,575 first prize and edge out Sexy Metro by a neck, with True Mason third.

That does not match the £122,925 purse Newbury's Super Sprint offered, but Quinn was in no mood to rue what might have been.

"When they came round her, you thought, err, and she got a bit unbalanced and maybe a little bit intimidated, but when she got back on an even keel she was going away at the line," said the trainer.

"She was very tough and there's no-one better on the big day than Lanfranco Dettori.

"It was quick ground, but like what she's been winning on and the track was in very good condition."


Super Sprint report


Quinn, a Cheltenham Festival winner thanks to 2012 Triumph Hurdle ace Countrywide Flame, added: "There are no easy races in this game. It looked like she might've had a tremendous chance in the Super Sprint, but as you saw in it yesterday, there was barging and bumping. She's a stakes filly and that's where we decided to keep her and she vindicated our decision, which is great because it doesn't always happen."

A step up to 6f and the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on August 19 is next for Signora Cabello, which Quinn has fond memories of after winning it with The Wow Signal in 2014.

He said: "She's in the Lowther, but if she's as well as she was before today she'll run in the Morny. The Wow Signal was similar to her in that they're two very tough horses who improved with racing. He was phenomenal, but I think her performance today was very good and the second is very good. There weren't many runners, but I'd say it was her best performance.

"It doesn't look like six furlongs would be a problem and over five and a half today she was going away from them at the line."

Regarding the juvenile's prospects of developing into a Classic contender next year, Quinn said: "On what we see at the moment you'd think six is well within her compass, but the difference between six and a mile is massive, so you may be thinking more of Commonwealth Cups, but we'll leave every option open and look after this year first."

Prix Robert Papin result


You might also be interested in:

Signora Cabello bought into by Phoenix Thoroughbreds

Phoenix declare intent to rival Coolmore and Godolphin after Cabello strike

Zen Racing hoping for more glory days with Signora Cabello


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James BurnLambourn correspondent

Published on 22 July 2018inReports

Last updated 16:11, 22 July 2018

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