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Juddmonte bag opening race Newmarket double with Coppice and Time Lock

Harry and Roger Charlton's filly proved her versatility when powering away from a seemingly strong field of ten rivals to land the Group 3 Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes on Newmarket's Rowley Mile.

The four-year-old filly was sent on an enterprising trip to France in search of a first Listed prize earlier in the month, a voyage that proved fruitful as she landed the Grand Prix de Craon.

That victory saw connections take the step back up into Group company and success never really looked in doubt as Ryan Moore's mount eased into contention heading into the dip. The daughter of Frankel hit the rising ground with purpose and continued to lengthen her stride in impressive fashion, eventually scoring by a commanding four-and-a-quarter lengths.

Sweet Memories ran on well through beaten rivals to finish second under Frankie Dettori but was ultimately no match for the 4/1 market leader, while stablemate Running Lion (11/2) finished back in third.

Barry Mahon, racing manager to Juddmonte, said: "We have been struggling to break our Stakes win here so we decided to bring her over to France and we won that race last year with a nice filly. She bolted up that day and I'd say it gave her a bit of confidence and she looks to have improved for it.  

"They went quick, and they went a proper mile and a half pace for a Group Three. She done it well and she stays well. She is genuine and tries hard. 

"She has always looked a good filly. To be fair Ryan [Moore] hit the nail on the head as we set her back when we ran her at Haydock early on in the year and the ground was very quick and she resented it and it probably set her back a bit. 

"It has taken us a couple of runs to get her confidence back and it looks like she is doing it now."

According to connections an outing in the Group 1 QIPCO British Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes could now await Time Lock which she was trimmed into 14-1 for by Paddy Power and 10-1 by William Hill. 

Mahon said: "If the ground was good, we could definitely think about giving it [the Fillies & Mares Stakes] a go, but it would need to be good or good to soft ground. If it was heavy, it wouldn't be her cup of tea. 

"There is a Group 1 race in Germany as well for her so we will speak to the owners and see what they would like to do."

It was an opening race double for connections Juddmonte with Coppice coming late to mow down her rivals in the Listed Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF Rosemary Stakes.

Having been out of luck in two starts at Group race level since landing the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot, the John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of Kingman showed what she is capable of when staying on strongly to get up in the closing stages and scored by half a length.

John Gosden said: "The girth went at Sandown I'm afraid, so I take the blame for that one. She has [toughed that out] and she has picked up in the last part as a mile, or a mile one [furlong] would be her trip. She has won at Royal Ascot, and she is back to her best here and she has now got the black type. 

"I think she won very well at Ascot. I know it was a handicap, but she was carrying plenty of weight. It is nice that she has won at Royal Ascot and now a Listed race at the end of the year. 

"She was out early in the year, and she got stuck in the mud if you remember so plans for the Guineas went by the board, but she has held her form well through the year. I couldn't be happier with her.

"There is a very strong possibility she will go to America now. We have discussed it before as she is a filly that will fit the racing well there. She will win Group races there on fast ground around a turning track."

Dettori, who moves to within one of riding a landmark 500 winners at Newmarket, said: "I was in the middle of the pack, and she was a bit timid in there, and I thought if you don't like I will take you around [rivals]. I took her around and I closed the gap. 

"As we ran downhill, she lost her way a little bit and her legs went everywhere. I was lucky I didn't lose too much ground there and I knew I would come to my own when I hit the rising ground and that's what happened. 

"Once she got organised, she really stuck her neck out."