18 May. ITA. Premio Regina Elena. G3. Rome. 1.600 mts. Turf. 210.000 €
1.- LOVE OF DUBAI (D.Holland)
2.- VATTENE (N.Murro)
3.- FAIRY EFISIO (D.Vargiu)


The Clive Brittain-trained Love Of Dubai (More Than Ready) upset the locals in Rome this afternoon when running away with the G.3 Premio Regina Elena, the Italian 1,000 Guineas.

With nineteen going to post and no outright favourite it was always going to be a very open race. Italian hopes lay with Bruno Grizzetti who was running four but, again, they would be disappointed.

Lia Rumma (Monashee Mountain) was quick to break and went straight to the front followed by L’Indiscreta (Desert Prince) and Ventana (Fath). Not surprisingly the field was spread out with almost twenty lengths separating the first from last.

Fairy Efisio (Efisio) was five off the leaders, Vattene (Kendor) a couple of lengths further back and Love Of Dubai close to the rear of the field.

As they spread out coming into the run for home, Lia Rumma and L’Indiscreta held the advantage and at two out there was no obvious winner.

Coming wide towards the standside Daryll Holland found a gap and began to drive Love Of Dubai forward with a powerful run. Vattene was rallying on her inner and Fairy Efisio coming wide on her outside. With a half-furlong left Love Of Dubai quickened again and went on to win comfortably by two lengths from Vattene with Fairy Efisio a neck away in third.

During the spring Love Of Dubai had acquitted herself admirably when campaigned in Dubai, running third in the UAE 1,000 Guineas before finishing bridesmaid, again to Cocoa Beach, in the Oaks.

Coming into this race Brittain recognised her run in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury was below par and had expected a much-improved performance today. He wasn’t disappointed.