Racing: Italian Derby for Dettori

MUKHALIF GAVE Godolphin its second consecutive Derby Italiano success, provided Frankie Dettori with his first victory in Italy's premier Classic - and bolstered the Derby prospects of the well-backed Beat All - by winning at the Cappanelle yesterday.

Having kept the leaders in his sights, Dettori kicked Mukhalif into the lead 300 yards from the line, with the combination scoring by a length and a half. Sir Michael Stoute's Iscan, with Kieren Fallon on board, running in the Sheikh Mohammed silks and coupled with the winner at 5-4 on, kept on well for a British one-two.

Aidan O'Brien's Yeoman's Point was seventh, while John Dunlop's Lightning Arrow and Paul Cole's Bombard were respectively 11th and last of the 13 runners.

Olivier Peslier was third past the post on the Milan-trained Antoniocastiglione, but his mount was demoted a place for hampering Best Grey. The Frenchman was handed a fine of three million lire (around pounds 1,093).

Mukhalif had been beaten three lengths by Beat All when they met in the Newmarket Stakes last month. He was also runner-up, beaten a length and a half, by Ed Dunlop's Derby hope Zaajer in the Glasgow Stakes at York last time out.

Docksider, trained by John Hills and ridden by his brother Michael, won the Group Three Laurent Perrier Meile at Baden Baden yesterday. Docksider beat El Lute by six lengths.

Earlier, Brian Meehan's Emma Peel was second past the post in the Listed Scherping-Rennen but was later awarded the race in the stewards' room.

Richard Edmondson on Frankie Dettori, page 8