Frankie Flying High

Frankie Dettori continued in great form at Goodwood yesterday with a treble provided by the two yards that gave him a hat-trick ? including a brilliant success in the Ladbrokes St Leger ? just 24 hours earlier.

Fresh from his heroics on Jeremy Noseda's Sixties Icon, the Italian, who paid a flying visit to ride in Rome for two fruitless rides on Saturday evening, made the journey back worthwhile as Pictavia took the Group Three Select Racing UK On Sky 432 Stakes with one of the rides of the season.

The Sinndar filly, third in the Vodafone Oaks last year for Jim Bolger before moving to Godolphin, looked beaten approaching the furlong marker as Road To Love poached what looked a winning two-length lead in the 10-furlong contest.

But Dettori refused to give up and in a ding-dong finish, the even-money favourite battled back to land her third victory in four starts this season.

He treated his fans to a flying dismount, though he landed on all fours.

'What a magnificent ride,' purred Godolphin's representative Alan Byrne. 'The filly was incredibly game and produced a really fantastic performance. She showed great courage and it's great that she has now won her Group race.

'She looked beaten but Frankie has given her a sensational ride, well worthy of a flying dismount, the only slight disappointment is he gets four faults for the landing!'

Dettori added: 'I have had some great rides this weekend on some really wonderful horses, topped off by Pictavia. She's won over a mile and a half but I thought that when Kevin Darley went by me we were beaten.

'I gave her another chance and she showed fantastic determination. She will always give her running.'

Dettori had earlier guided newcomer Counterpunch to a cosy three-quarters of a length success from Pentatonic in the 11-furlong Adenstar Maiden Stakes.

The three-year-old son of Halling travelled smoothly throughout off only a moderate pace set by Maraakez before Dettori pushed the button on the 5-6 favourite with two furlongs to go.

Though Pentatonic came with a flourish, the Godolphin gelding had plenty up his sleeve and the pair pulled three and a half lengths clear of the remainder.

Byrne said: 'It looked a weak maiden, but he'd done plenty of work and was fit. He needed a bit of time. Frankie said that it wasn't the strongest race.'

Dettori completed his hat-trick when Noseda's Dodge City broke his maiden at the third attempt, making the most of the faster ground up the far rail and powering the 11-8 favourite to a five-length victory from Nadawat in the six-furlong Pallant House European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes.

Mick Channon notched his 100th winner of the season when Grantley Adams (9-2) came with a rare old rattle up the stands rail under Tony Culhane in a thrilling finish to the six-furlong Hammond And Desborough 70th Birthday Celebration Handicap Stakes.

Although it looked as if Machinist (11-4 favourite) would grab the glory, Culhane conjured up one last rattle as the three-year-old flew to nab Robert Winston's mount and score by half a length.

Paul O'Neill showed the Flat boys how to do it when the jump jockey produced a polished front-running ride aboard Kanpai (6-1) to take the Ucello II And Ubu III Trophy Handicap (For National Hunt Jockeys) by three and a half lengths.

Trainer John O'Shea appears to have a progressive novice hurdler on his hands and he'll now wait to step the strapping and genuine four-year-old up in class.

'He is a huge but still a shadow of a horse. We will wait for the better novice hurdles for him now because of his penalties. He won't be out again until next month, possibly we'll go to either Huntingdon or Chepstow (for the Jewson qualifiers) before thinking about Cheltenham for him.'

It was a forgettable afternoon for Andrew Tinkler, who suffered a crashing fall when the saddle on Serramanna broke on the turn into the straight. He was trampled on and was motionless for several minutes, but he soon got up after receiving just a few bad bruises.

(C) PA Sport