Saddlers success as Quest flops

Surprise result at Leicester

Last updated: 23rd May 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Jacqueline Quest

Jacqueline Quest: Turned over at 1-4

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Saddlers Bend beat Nabah as Henry Cecil's Jacqueline Quest flopped in the ladbrokes.com Charnwood Forest Fillies' Conditions Stakes at Leicester.

George Baker's progressive mare (14-1) travelled well in the race and struck the front under Matthew Davies with two furlongs to run.

She had to work hard to master hot-favourite Jacqueline Quest, before repelling the late challenge of runner-up Nabah (16-1) who had found herself outpaced before running on in the closing stages.

Cecil's four-year-old, sent off the 1-4 favourite, was well-held in third and this must go down as a disappointing run from the filly who won last-year's 1000 Guineas before being demoted into second after a stewards' enquiry.

It was Saddlers Bend's last race as she is in foal to Sakhee's Secret.

"I hated the fact we were coming here off 72 against an 111-rated horse," said Baker.

"We wouldn't do it normally, it's not clever, but she's on her way home.

"She won well at Newbury on Saturday night, there was prize-money down to fifth place here and we brought her to keep our other horse that was running company.

"She's going home now and it's a fantastic way to end her career. We obviously didn't expect to win, just to nick a bit of prize-money.

"If she had finished third I'd have been thrilled, second would have been a bonus, and she's gone at won it.

"She was rated 46 when she first won for us at Wolverhampton and now we were taking on the Guineas 'winner'.

"She has improved considerably, she's tough and dependable.

"Being in foal to Sakhee's Secret has helped, like it does a lot of fillies."

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