Godolphin's season of mixed fortunes appears to be taking a turn for the better after Lend A Hand and Kayf Tara completed a Group-race double on the final afternoon of the Dante meeting at York today.
It was Lend A Hand who provided Godolphin with a first British Pattern-race victory of the season when taking the Duke of York Victor Chandler Stakes.
The 100-30 chance forged clear from the furlong-pole in the hands of Frankie Dettori to defeat Pipalong by one and a half lengths in the Group Three contest.
Lend A Hand's objective now is another six-furlong race, the Cork And Orrery Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"Frankie said the horse was still in seven-furlong mode and it took him a while to get going," said Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford.
"Seven furlongs probably does suit him best but there are no fancy seven-furlong races until the end of the season.
"He's a talented horse who was taken out by another horse on his last outing in Dubai.
"He's five years old and this will be his last season as he's going to stud at the end of the campaign."
Pipalong's trainer Tim Easterby was pleased with the performance of the runner-up, who was unable to make up the ground Lend A Hand stole when quickening ahead.
He said: "She goes on this ground but would like a little more give. She's run a great race and we'll go for all the big sprints with her."
And the filly's jockey added Kevin Darley added: "The ground might have been a touch lively for her - she could have been getting a bit wise on it."
Favourite Arkadian Hero finished a never-nearer fourth.
Kayf Tara completed a quick double for Godolphin and Dettori when running away with the Group Two Merewood Homes Yorkshire Cup.
The 15-8 favourite was always travelling supremely well behind early pacesetters Kahtan and Sinon and quickened clear as soon as Dettori shook the reins with two furlongs to travel, scoring by four lengths from Rainbow Ways.
The six-year-old will now bid to repeat his success of 1998 in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, a race in which he was also third last year.
At one point last year his racing career appeared to be in jeopardy when he damaged a near-fore suspensory in Australia, a week before he was due to line up in the Foster's Melbourne Cup.
Crisford commented: "These older horses and are keeping the Godolphin flag flying while some of the younger brigade are letting us down.
"It was a serious injury that he sustained in Melbourne - he could not have run as he was lame and this race will bring him on physically and mentally.
"Even though he doesn't stay two and a half miles he has enough class to win the Gold Cup again. I think one mile six is his optimum trip."
Bin Suroor added: "He will go for the Gold Cup and then we will think about Melbourne for him. This shower just before the race helped him, I think.
"He has been sweating up and getting excited since he arrived from Dubai and I think that he will settle down again now after this race."
Coral make Kayf Tara their 5-2 favourite for the stayers' crown (from 7-2) with last year's winner Enzeli next best at 7-1.
Today's second and third-favourites Persian Punch and Celeric both proved most disappointing, trailing the field home.
John Dunlop, trainer of the latter, said: "Pat (Eddery) said it was like an ice-rink out there and he couldn't grip the surface properly."
Persian Punch's rider Richard Quinn offered a similar explanation.
The Godolphin successes were coming only days after Bachir had lifted the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (the French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp but for every winner, there seems to have been another disappointment for the Dubai operation.
However, Crisford added: "In England we have started quietly but we have had 31 winners throughout the world this year.
"Sheikh Mohammed hasn't been worried - he knows the score.
"He hasn't been pressing any panic buttons."
