Sandrine hits target over seven furlongs

Kirsten Rausing’s homebred had run well in top-level mile events this season but the switch back to seven furlongs and drop into G2 company proved an ideal combination.

Sandrine toughed it out late on to hold on by a dwindling neck, bringing up a century of winners this year for her jockey David Probert. Last year’s winner Kinross (4/1) didn’t get the clearest of passages up the inside but finished well to grab second, just ahead of Pogo (6/1).

Balding said: “I am delighted and thrilled for Kirsten Rausing. She is such a great owner and so supportive thankfully, as we had a few options on the table. She was happy to go with what we felt was best and we just wanted to try Sandrine round a bend. She slightly blew the bend in the Coronation Stakes, but I thought she handled it really well today.

“Sandrine looked like she would win the Falmouth at one stage and probably just didn't quite get home. We just felt that if she was effective at seven furlongs, she could be a filly for the Prix de la Foret, as she goes on any ground. We just wanted to try her round a right-handed bend before that and it's worked out well.

“I don't know about the Breeders' Cup. We'll see what the owner wants to do, but the target looks to be the Foret, and she doesn't have a penalty in the City Of York Stakes, so that could be a stepping-stone.

“Sandrine was very slow to come to hand, but she ran two very good races in the 1,000 Guineas and the Falmouth. Like Alcohol Free in the spring, for whatever reason the horses were slower to come to hand than usual, but it's nice to have understanding and patient owners who know the game. You're not under the same pressure you could be. We just found our way to here with Sandrine and now she has the rest of the season to kick on.”

Probert said: “Credit to Sandrine, she deserved that. We've tried her at a mile this year and she has run very consistently. She was fifth in the 1,000 Guineas and just came up against two progressive fillies in the Falmouth last time out.  

“She took a while to really blossom this season and she’s run consistently, but she’s had some very progressive mile fillies in front of her. The plan was to try the seven furlongs today and it worked out great for her. She is able to travel at a very strong gallop and I’m just delighted for her to get her head back in front.

“She had shown a lot of speed as a two-year-old, when she was competitive at a very high level. I would imagine seven furlongs suits her down to the ground as she can travel strongly off a good, even gallop. Like she showed today, she quickened very well. I am delighted for Miss Rausing and the team back home.

“I will leave the next options to Ms Rausing and Andrew. I always thought she was a Group One filly and if she could get that Group One, it would be an amazing feeling for me and her. I think she does see the mile out well, but she would probably be a little bit more able to bag that Group One over seven furlongs.”

Ralph Beckett said of Kinross: “He is brave and has run another proper race. Frankie felt that he was a couple of lengths further back than he would have liked and that has cost him, but he has run his race. That is all you can ask for.”

Pogo’s trainer Charlie Hills said: “Unfortunately, they have put too much water on for him today. He just could not get his feet out. He has run a great race again. He was just starting to come again – it probably gets a bit quicker up the straight – but on that bend it is too loose and does not suit him."