Frankie Dettori was back in the headlines for all the right reasons with a double at Sandown on Thursday including the G3 Henry II Stakes on Godolphin's top stayer Opinion Poll.
After dispelling retirement rumours, it was not surprising that he treated the crowd to one of his flying dismounts from Opinion Poll after he landed the Henry II Stakes in fine style.
Having his first run back from his Dubai Cup success in March, Opinion Poll showed a smart turn of foot to defeat Australian-owned Ibicenco by nearly three lengths.
The winner has set himself up for another crack at the Ascot Gold Cup, in which he finished second last year.
Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni said: "Frankie knows this horse very well. He held on to him as long as he could because he has a real burst of speed.
"When he came back from Dubai we gave him some time off before we built him back up again.
"When they travel such a long way it affects them so I don't think he'll have been at his best tonight."
Opinion Poll now goes for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot where he will attempt to improve on his second placing last year behind Fame And Glory.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin racing manager, said: “Opinion Poll was very professional and we are very pleased.
“He thrives on his racing and is very straightforward now. He doesn't show the need for soft ground any more.”
Dettori was also successful on Brian Meehan's Cogito in the Listed Heron Stakes.
Having won on his debut at Newmarket, the Giant's Causeway colt wore down his rivals to score by a neck.
"There was a lack of pace and it looked tough for him in the straight but he's a nice horse and he's progressing," Meehan said.
"There's not much more you can say, he won his maiden first time out and has now won a Listed race.
"The St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot is the obvious next move as this is a good trial for that, but I'll obviously talk to his connections."
* THE Queen's classy 4YO Carlton House made an accomplished return from a long absence by claiming the G2 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt had not been sighted since finishing fourth in the Irish Derby last June but showed his class as they sprinted inside the final furlong to collect by a length and three-quarters in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Stoute said: "I didn't feel too much pressure coming into this evening. I came here hopeful.
"They weren't serious problems last year, but they were enough to prevent him from racing.
"It was pretty hard to prepare him for a Derby when his foot was in an ice bucket morning, noon and night.
"He was very fresh today. When he went through the gap he filled up again as it wasn't a strong gallop.
"We'll go for the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot next and take it one step at a time."
Moore said: "I was very happy with him. He was fresh early but they weren't going quick. He got the gap and went through it, he always tries his hardest.
"That was only his sixth race so you'd like to think he'll keep on improving."
