Georgia House Stud Darley S.

[my miss storm cat]

The official Godolphin word.....

© Mark Cranham
WINDSOR KNOT COLLECTS DARLEY STAKES
19 October 2007


Windsor Knot recorded a game victory in the Group Three Georgia House Stud Darley Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket on Friday, October 19.
Stablemate Blue Ksar also ran well to finish third.

Having broken well, Windsor Knot was always in a prominent position, stalking early leader Tell in the first half of the contest.

Asked to quicken three furlongs out, jockey Ted Durcan sent the son of Pivotal to the front of the field, and the five-year-old responded well, holding off the challenges of Blue Ksar and Mashaahed to prevail by three-quarters of a length and a short head in a time of 1m 52.38s. The ground was officially described as soft.

Blue Ksar also produced another good performance. Settled towards the rear of the 13 runners, Frankie Dettori made good progress on the four-year-old, coming with a promising run entering the final three furlongs.

The son of Anabaa challenged his stablemate for the lead in the final furlong, before being outstayed in the closing stages. He lost second place on the line to Mashaahed.

Windsor Knot had finished second in the Georgia House Darley Stakes last year, going down to Stage Gift by a short head.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "Windsor Knot came out of his Goodwood race well, and I was very pleased with his performance today. He battled well and deserved to win a Group Three today.

"Blue Ksar also ran a good race, although I was slightly disappointed with his idiot of a jockey."