Marcel recorded a shock win in the final Group One of the flat season, the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
Unbeaten odds-on favourite Foundation, ridden by
Frankie Dettori, found himself boxed in during the mile race and could
only finish third.
It was a third successive victory in the race for jockey Andrea Atzeni, who moved to the outside to guide 33-1 shot Marcel home by a length-and-a-half.
Johannes Vermeer finished second in the field of seven.
"What a nightmare for Frankie Dettori. At the end of a dream
year when practically nothing has gone wrong for him, nothing much went
right here as Dettori and the previously unbeaten Foundation were stuck
behind a "wall" of horses when needing space to mount a challenge. |
That said, Marcel might have won anyway. He was quite
impressive for the ever-popular - but quieter than he used to be - Peter
Chapple-Hyam, the winner of this with subsequent Derby winner
Authorized (2006); Epsom is sure to be the target for Marcel too." |
Atzeni, who rode Kingston Hill and Elm Park to victory in the previous two years, said: "I was going to follow Frankie, but it got a bit tight so I thought I'd go round.
"As soon as I pulled him out, he picked up."
It was also a third success in the coveted race for trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, after Commander Collins in 1998 and Authorized in 2006.
"Authorized won this at a big price and I did say Marcel was no Authorized, but that was because this lad had already won a maiden," a jubilant Chapple-Hyam said.
"Even though I don't have many good horses, you know when a good one comes along.
"He obviously goes on any ground and will be better next year when he's stronger.
"I see him as a French Derby type, I'd be worried about him staying further (12 furlongs). If I get my way, he'll be in my favourite race, the Dante, but if he shows enough speed before then he could go for the Guineas."
No comments:
Post a Comment