Harry Davies enjoyed a first group race success when Arabian Dusk landed the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.
The daughter of red-hot stallion Havana Grey was winning for the first time having backed up her debut second at Doncaster with a promising third-place finish in the Listed Empress Fillies' Stakes over today's course and distance.
Davies, who partnered the filly on debut, opted for positive tactics on Simon and Ed Crisford's 12/1 chance and the pair were always towards the fore of those camped in the near side group. George Boughey's Bountiful showed plenty of dash towards the far side, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Heavens Gate leading those in the near side group and the six-furlong Group 2 prize still looked well up for grabs with a furlong to run.
The Albany Stakes third and fourth Heavens Gate and Mountain Breeze both remained in firm contention with a furlong to run, but neither could match the finishing kick of Arabian Dusk, who kept on strongly up the hill to score by three-quarters of a length.
Paddy Power introduced the winner at 25/1 for the 1000 Guineas Stakes next season, with emphatic Chesham Stakes scorer Bedtime Story remaining the 5/2 favourite.
It was a quickfire double on day two of the July Festival for trainers Ed and Simon Crisford after the well-backed Involvement (10/3) landed the opening bet365 Handicap under in-form rider Oisin Murphy.
"On her first two runs she was very green, which she was entitled to be," explained the winning trainer, Ed Crisford. "We threw her into a Listed race on her second run and Sean (Levey) said she lost her position early just through greenness. That meant she was out the back and while she came with a good run, she just failed.
"It was quick ground that day and very hard to make ground on the leaders. Today we said to Harry to jump out and he gave her a beautiful ride, sat on Ryan's (Moore) girths and she picked up really well coming up the hill to pull clear.
"It was a really pleasing effort, she's an improving filly, a high-quality filly and she's by a great stallion in Havana Grey, who is getting stronger and stronger. With Vandeek tomorrow, I hope we can have a Havana Grey double!
On future targets, Crisford added: "I think she would stay further but for now we'll probably stick to six. She's not in the Prix Morny but there's that or the Lowther."
It was a first group race winner for jockey Harry Davies, who partnered Zoffee to victory in the Chester Cup earlier in the season.
Davies said of the victory: "I'm delighted to get the opportunity off Simon and Ed, the whole team at Gainsborough have worked so hard with this filly to keep her right, we've always had a lot of faith in her and thought she would go on to better things.
"She was unlucky the last day, being shuffled a bit further back, but she ran on really nicely. There was a little bit more give in the ground today and we wondered if that would enhance her chances, so to beat the O'Brien filly, she must be good.
"There are good times ahead. It's a big moment for me but I have to thank Simon and Ed for the opportunity and Shaikh Duaij (owner) for having the faith in me, I feel very honoured."
