Persian Dreamer caused a shock in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile as short-priced favourite Star Of Mystery was turned over at odds of 1/6.
Charlie Appleby's filly was all the rage to follow up her commanding course and distance Listed success thirteen days ago and travelled enthusiastically as the quartet raced two by two towards the centre of the track.
Star Of Mystery cut out the early running with Thanksbutnothanks while Woodhay Wonder and Persian Dreamer bided their time off the front duo.
Thanksbutnothanks began to back out of things approaching two marker as Star Of Mystery soon regained the advantage travelling towards the final furlong but it soon became apparent the Charlie Appleby-trained runner had a fight on her hands. Woodhay Wonder threatened to get involved more towards the far side before fading and it was left to Star Of Mystery and Persian Dreamer to fight it out in the closing stages. Star Of Mystery hung left-handed under pressure, while Persian Dreamer (5/1), ran on strongly to pick it up inside the final furlong and came away for a comfortable one-and three-quarter length winner.
The AMO Racing-owned scorer was doubling her career tally having landed a Newmarket maiden on the Rowley Mile first-time-out before finishing fourth in Listed and Group 3 company at York and Ascot subsequently.
It was a quickfire double for jockey Kevin Stott who landed the opening contest on 20/1 chance Killybegs Warrior.
Kia Joorabchian, who turned 52 today, said: "We've loved this filly from day one. She had one unfortunate midfield run (when fourth of nine at York in May) but ever since she's been wonderful. She's very quick and it worked out very well today. She's beaten a 1-6 favourite and well-thought-of Godolphin horse so we will look [at Group One targets]."
Winning trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis was enjoying a first Pattern race victory in his career and said: "It's a relief to get there at last. She's a smashing filly and she's done nothing wrong all year really, but she needs to get her toe into the ground. We were praying for the rain today and it has come – I was saying before the race that I didn't wear a jacket in the hope it would rain!
"She was the last horse off the bridle at Ascot and she just doesn't let herself down when the ground is as fast as that. It was proper fast ground but there was no jar and she's been able to come here not that long afterwards and run a top race.
"She's a big strong filly and that's probably why she doesn't go on the fast ground, but I think she's a lovely filly going forward. When she won here on the Rowley Mile (in April) I thought she could make up into a Guineas horse and she gives you that sort of impression.
"We had some nice horses (before Amo arrived at the yard), but I would never have had a horse like this."
Charlie Appleby, trainer of runner-up and 1/6 market leader Star Of Mystery, said: "As we know with these small runner events they can become quite messy. We were contested there early (for the lead), and she was lit up for the first couple of furlongs.
"As Will [Buick, jockey] said she hit the lids and the other horse (Thanksbutnothanks) was up there on our girths keeping us lit up. They (Kevin Stott and Persian Dreamer) got a nice tow into it and picked up and have seen it out better than we did. At the end of the day, we know it is tough on the front end with a bit of a headwind. We did enough early on, and it just paid that last couple of hundred yards.
"Fair play to the winner, they have got a nice tow, got the cover, and picked us up. Small fields can become messier than a big field event, but full credit to the winner. Our filly didn't lose too much in defeat. I think she will be better when she can get a bit of cover.
"We will carry on down that route [sprinting], whether we look at the Lowther or hold on I don't know. She is a filly that is a this year filly on the scope of her."
Paddy Power cut the winner from 40/1 to 33/1 for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket next May.
