Shutter Speed and Frankie Dettori defy rain to triumph at York

RAIN-SOAKED York's attritional conditions on the opening day of the Dante festival were brought into sharp focus by a mud-splattered Frankie Dettori's subdued reaction to Shutter Speed's big race win.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Shutter Speed ridden by Frankie Dettori wins The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York. Picture: PA/Mike EgertonCATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Shutter Speed ridden by Frankie Dettori wins The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York. Picture: PA/Mike Egerton
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Shutter Speed ridden by Frankie Dettori wins The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York. Picture: PA/Mike Egerton

Racing’s showman, normally so ebullient, couldn’t even muster the enthusiasm for a flying dismount – his trademark celebration – after winning the Musidora Stakes for a record-equalling fifth time.

“We got away with it,” sighed a drenched Dettori whose demeanour summed up the prevailing mood on a sorry and soggy Knavesmire. “We got away with it. The ground is very soft and she didn’t like it and it dented her turn of foot, but she was much the best horse in the race. It was hard work for her.”

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Yet the hardy souls who did brave the elements witnessed, in Shutter Speed, a potentially top class filly – still unbeaten – who is now a worthy favourite for the 10-furlong Prix de Diane, the French Oaks, rather than the Epsom equivalent over a mile-and-a-half.

Tasleet  ridden by Jim Crowley rides to victory on day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PATasleet  ridden by Jim Crowley rides to victory on day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
Tasleet ridden by Jim Crowley rides to victory on day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

Running in the colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah, she’s trained by John Gosden who walked the course beforehand to check the increasingly deep underfoot conditions – not dissimilar to those so favoured by the National Hunt fraternity in the middle of winter – before declaring the odds-on favourite.

His calculated gamble was further vindicated by the fact that Shutter Speed was only facing four modest rivals.

“The ground staff have done the most wonderful job. It was beautiful grass with great depth to it, but sadly we had a mass amount of rain,” said the ever thoughtful Gosden.

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“It was only because it was in great condition before that we decided to run. She hated it. It was too soft and she was not happy at all, but she had the class to win.

Tasleet trainer William Haggas during day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PATasleet trainer William Haggas during day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
Tasleet trainer William Haggas during day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

“She will go to the Prix de Diane which is just over a month’s time. It gives her a month to get over the race. She is a mile-and-a-quarter filly – this did stretch the stamina today.”

While the winner is not heading to Epsom, Hugo Palmer would be keen to tackle the Oaks on June 2 with the runner-up Vintage Folly. He said: “That was a great effort by a filly having her first run of the year, and only the second of her life, against more experienced fillies.”

There was a surprise in the Duke of York Stakes when Tasleet spreadeagled the field for Skipton-born trainer William Haggas and champion jockey Jim Crowley.

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Lightly raced, and dropping back in trip to six furlongs, the winner handled conditions best of all, finishing clear of 2016 winner Magical Memory, Comicas and The Tin Man. Kevin Ryan’s Brando, backed into favouritism, finished last.

Tasleet  ridden by Jim Crowley rides to victory on day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PATasleet  ridden by Jim Crowley rides to victory on day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
Tasleet ridden by Jim Crowley rides to victory on day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

“I always thought he wanted fast ground but he seemed to revel in that,” said a slightly surprised Haggas, who later completed a double courtesy of the Ryan Moore-ridden Battered.

“He has been a relatively sound horse but he just had a real bad injury last year to a hind ankle which took a hell of a long time to clear up. I always fancied coming back to six furlongs.”

Next month’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot appears the obvious target – the question is whether Tasleet is a genuinely top class horse or won this race because others could not handle the ground.

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Heavy rain played its part in the Infinity Tyre Handicap. With Out Do withdrawn on account of the conditions, Danny Tudhope was able to team up with the eventual winner Al Qahwa.

Tasleet trainer William Haggas during day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PATasleet trainer William Haggas during day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
Tasleet trainer William Haggas during day one of the Dante Festival at York. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

Having his first run for York trainer David O’Meara since 
being bought out of Michael Halford’s yard for just 18,000 guineas, he has already repaid connections a large proportion of that.

He looked booked for second when Muntadab went clear, but Al Qahwa found plenty to edge the verdict by a neck.

Tudhope said: “It was his first run for us and, to be honest, we didn’t know what to expect really. He has won on yielding ground before so we thought he would handle the ground, but we didn’t know much about him.”

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Earlier, the meeting began with course specialist Master Carpenter, winner of the 2015 John Smith’s Cup, landing the opener for Devon trianer Rod Millman and North Yorkshire jockey Philip Makin.

One of the most consistent riders in the North, the likable Makin reported: “He is such an honest horse, he has probably spent a lot of the time badly handicapped. I spoke to Rod before and he was very confident today with the rain.”