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Dubai: Creachadoir gained reward for some consistent efforts at the top level when running out an impressive winner of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) at Newbury on Saturday.
Runner-up in the French and Irish 2,000 Guineas last spring before producing a below-par performance in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba in March, the four-year-old bounced back strongly to supply Godolphin with their first Group 1 victory of the season.
Sent off a 3-1 favourite Creachadoir collared pacemaker Rob Roy inside the final furlong and went on to dominate the 1,600 metre contest in the final stages. With big-race jockey Frankie Dettori in saddle the Godolphin horse was not extended to win by three-quarters of a length from Phoenix Tower while Tariq was a neck back in third.
Trainer Saeed bin Surour was over-the-moon to win the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes for the fourth time after Cape Cross (1998), Fly To The Stars (1999) and Aljabr (2000).
He told Gulf News from Newbury: "It's a great feeling to have won our first Group One race of the year with Creachadoir.
"The colt has improved from last year and is a stronger horse than last year. He needed the race on Dubai World Cup night.
"He showed a good turn of foot and has plenty of speed. I think a mile is the best trip for him and hopefully we will take him to Royal Ascot."
Dettori was equally delighted and said: "His form is rock-solid and he is a force to be reckoned with this year.
"They went a pretty even gallop and I had the box seat," he told the Godolphin website. "I managed to get some room at the two-furlong marker, I pressed go and he responded immediately.
"Creachadoir quickened well and was idling a bit in front. It is nice to have a big race in the bag already as it is a long season."
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