It was a case of deja vu for Six Perfections as poor luck in running again denied the French-trained filly classic success when Yesterday landed the Entenmann´s Irish 1,000 Guineas under a masterful ride by Michael Kinane.
Kinane waited until a furlong out before asking his mount to quicken and, with 30/100 favourite Six Perfections boxed on the inside rail, headed Dimitrova inside the final 100 yards.
The John Murtagh-ridden hot-pot flew home when switched to get a clear route on the outside, but the post just came in time for Yesterday to score by a short-head and 3/4L.
´That was just perfection from Mick. She does very little when hitting the front, and he did everything right,´ said a delighted Aidan O´Brien.
´We´ve always felt that she would get 12f, and an ease in the ground is a help to her. She will go next for the Vodafone Oaks along with L´ancresse who ran a fine race in fourth,´ added O´Brien.
The full-sister to last year´s Oaks runner-up Quarter Moon is now favourite with all bookmakers for the Epsom classic, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power going as low as 7/4.
Dermot Weld is considering a move up to 10f for Dimitrova and said, ´She ran a brave race, and may go for the Pretty Polly or the Californian Oaks in the first week of July.´
The O´Brien/Kinane team recorded a Group 1 double on the afternoon as Black Sam Bellamy recorded a runaway success in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
The full-brother to Galileo struck the front early in the straight, and stretched clear of his seven rivals when beating the Godolphin pair Highdown and Narrative by 8L and 1 1/2L.
´He was disappointing in France last time but I may have been a bit easy on him. He´s been working great since, and is a big, powerful horse,´ said O´Brien.
He added, ´The Coronation Cup is a possibility if there is a little ease in the ground.´
Local trainer Michael Halford completed a memorable weekend, following up his first Group race win with a first treble at odds of 1,351 via Cool Cousin, Tipperary All Star and Queens Wharf.
Tipperar y All Star gave a gutsy front-running performance under Tadhg O´Shea in the Listed Airlie Stud Silver Stakes, holding off the persistent challenges of Good Day Too and Multazem by two heads.
Halford is already dreaming of a career over hurdles for the winner saying, ´We´ll probably give him a break now, and he´s been schooled over hurdles.´
Cool Cousin provided Stephen Hunter (22) with his second winner when taking the 6f handicap by a neck from Assigh Lady, while Queens Wharf (Jerry O´Dwyer) beat stablemate Rashay by 2L in the 12f handicap.
The Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot is next on the agenda for Wathab after an impressive win under Declan McDonogh in the 6f maiden, beating British raider Cedarberg by 3 1/2L.
´Everyone wants to Royal Ascot so why not me!´ said trainer Kevin Prendergast before adding, ´He was very green on his first two starts, and better ground would suit him.´
Ned Mitchell saddled his first winner at the venue when the Willie Supple-ridden Carranduff touched off Lucky Largo in the 1m handicap.
