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Gosden and Buick bag another Group 1 win
30 Jul 2012 | Racingpost.com Report: France, Sunday
Prix Rothschild (Group 1) 3yo+ fillies and mares, 1m
John Gosden and William Buick's golden summer continued at Deauville on Sunday when Elusive Kate made it four wins from four starts on her cross-channel forays.
Not for the first time this year, Buick took advantage of the reluctance of jockeys in France to go on and his front-running tactics worked to perfection as Maxime Guyon on Golden Lilac was unable to get to the sole British raider in the field.
Elusive Kate was sent into the lead by Buick leaving the stalls and the in-form rider bossed the pace from the front, quickening at the half-way stage before winding it up throughout the second half of the race.
Guyon and the other riders attempted to get their mounts competitive racing into the final furlong, but by this time Buick's positive ride had already made sure that Elusive Kate, last season's Marcel Boussac winner, had notched another Group 1 win.
Buick said: "She did it well, everything went to plan and she showed a real good turn of foot. She likes it here and she likes that rail."
This was just the second start that Elusive Kate had had this season, having beaten all bar Giofra in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket 16 days earlier, after the wet English summer had left her looking on from the sidelines as her stablemates mopped up big-race wins left, right and centre.
Elusive Kate's success was a fourth Group 1 for Gosden and Buick in July following wins for Great Heavens (Irish Oaks), Nathaniel (Eclipse) and Izzi Top (Pretty Polly).
Also on Sunday
Deauville: Prix de Cabourg (Group 3) 6f, 2yo
Trainer Mark Johnston, who won a Listed race at the track on Saturday, was denied more glory in France when Baileys Jubilee was beaten by Mazameer (Freddy Head/Thierry Jarnet).
The winner broke well and made all to beat Baileys Jubilee, who was just held.
Representing owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, Richard Hills said the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny over the same course and distance was the likely target.
"I thought it was a good performance," said Hills. "He showed good speed there and Freddy said straight afterwards he'd like to have a go at the big one and, why not, he's entitled to have a crack."
Johnston was delighted with Baileys Jubilee, who was making a fast return to France after collecting a Vichy Listed success a week ago.
"It would be nice to find a race for her against the fillies - maybe the Lowther at York or the Flying Childers or Cheveley Park," he said. "We'll also look at the Morny just in case."
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