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Sunday, April 18th. Newbury’s Dubai Duty Free weekend saw an ‘imitation’ of last summer's Deauville Prix Morny – the Greenham (Group 3).
The result – Dick Turpin beating his better-fancied stable companion Canford Cliffs – did no more for the Morny form than the runner-up in that race Special Duty’s defeat in the Imprudence.
But there were any number of conflicting signals from the British trials at Newbury and Newmarket last week.
Canford Cliffs, though downed, finished a long way ahead of Morny winner Arcano this time.
And the fillies were contrary too for though Puff was only fourth to Special Duty in Newmarket’s Cheveley Park last autumn, she reversed the form with two of the fillies ahead that day, Lady Of The Desert and Misheer in Newbury’s Dubai Duty Free Stakes (formerly Fred Darling).
Now Puff will be given the opportunity to take on Special Duty in the 1000 Guineas – though her chances of staying the Newmarket mile look remote on breeding.
Canford Cliffs doesn’t look a stayer either so the only 2000 Guineas threat to the favourite St Nicholas Abbey is surely Elusive Pimpernel.
He took Newmarket’s Guineas trial, the Craven with authority prompting veteran trainer John Dunlop, a wise owl who considers his options carefully, to nominate another crack at St Nicholas Abbey as the next objective.
Elusive Pimpernel was runner-up to the Ballydoyle Guineas’ favourite in the Racing Post Trophy.
The Prix du Jockey Club is Dunlop’s future plan of campaign – “Depending on how he performs in the Guineas I think the trip and the course at Chantilly should suit,” he said.
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Frogwatch, by Rolf Johnson 
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