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Terebellum stamps class on G2 Dahlia Stakes

Racenews

Terebellum made an impressive return to action when comfortably winning the G2 Dahlia Stakes, with Magic Lily running well under a penalty to take third in the 10-furlong contest at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, 6 June.

Lightly-raced four-year-old Terebellum, who had previously scored at G2 level for trainer John Gosden in last year’s Prix de la Nonette at Deauville, raced in fourth of the seven-strong field early on, with Magic Lily settling in second.

Magic Lily, shouldered with a 3lb penalty following G2 victories at Meydan this season in the Cape Verdi and Balanchine, moved up to hit the front with just under three furlongs left and was joined by the well-travelling Terebellum with a quarter-mile to race.

Terebellum quickened well under Frankie Dettori and took up the running soon after before asserting over the staying-on Queen Power inside the final furlong to prevail by a length and a quarter.

Magic Lily, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, kept on at the same pace to come home a further length and a half in arrears, with the first three pulling six lengths clear of Eva Maria in fourth.

John Gosden said: “Terebellum did that well. She got a little tired but she has only been on the Al Bahathri [gallop] and this was her first time on grass in a long time. I think the first three are nice fillies and that was not a weak Dahlia at all. I think Terebellum just got tired at the end as she carries a lot of condition.

"That is her trip and she wouldn't have wanted deep ground today. We'll see what we do going forward, there are G1 races like the Pretty Polly at the Curragh and the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville for her."

Frankie Dettori said: “Terebellum has been doing some decent work in the mornings and I had some big hopes for her. It turned into a ‘sit and sprint’ but I was in a good position and she quickened really well.”