Horses from around the world will contest the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot this weekend
Noverre lays claim to the European mile crown in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes atAscot on the day his jockey Frankie Dettori unveils a life-size bronze of himself at the Queen’s raceecourse.
Victory over one of the most cosmopolitan fields ever paraded at Ascot will consolidate Noverre at the head of the ratings of his specialist division of eight-furlong horses.
Noverre carries the royal blue silks of Godolphin, who have been successful in the race with the brilliant but ill-fated Dubai Millennium and Mark Of Esteem, the centrepiece of Frankie Dettori’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ when the Italian rode all seven winners in 1996.
Ranged against Noverre will be Bocelli, from Singapore, Vahorimix, from France, Proudwings, from Germany, and Hawkeye and Bach from Ireland.
Noverre finished third in a muddling race for the Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, which was awarded to Vahorimix on the disqualification of Proudwings. Before that he had beaten No Excuse Needed fair and square in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
No Excuse Needed, from the Sir Michael stable, will again be a big threat, as will the German mare Proudwings, who loves the soft ground.
Ascot racegoers will for ever be reminded of Dettori’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ feat by his bronze statue which stands for the first time in the Members’ Enclosure entrance.
No jockey is likely to emulate Dettori’s achievement, though he will be trying to add to his formidable Ascot record on Lahooq (2.00), Fraulein (2.35), Vision Of Night (3.50), Mr Mahoose (3.40) and Aunty Rose (4.55).
Fraulein finds herself faced with the tough opposition of Gossamer and Half Glance, two of the favourites for next year’s 1,000 Guineas, in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile.
Luca Cumani believes that Gossamer could prove herself even better than her brother Barathea, who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in America in 1994. Gossamer could be a tip-top filly in the making.
