Racing: Stoute conjures triumph from Russian Rhythm

It was quite a surprise to see Russian Rhythm just turn up here yesterday for the 1,000 Guineas. Recent dire reports of her condition suggested she must have been unhooked from a life support machine just to make it to the Rowley Mile.

To then witness the chestnut filly powering home for Classic success made credulity a tug-of-war rope. We had to believe because we saw it.

Russian Rhythm was immediately back to the imperious form which made her the Guineas winter ante-post favourite. Even Michael Stoute, her trainer, appeared genuinely bemused. "I really hadn't been pleased with her preparation," he said. "She wasn't really looking or eating as well as she can. Fortunately she has just come right on the day."

It was a race notable not just for Russian Rhythm's renaissance. This Guineas will also be remembered as a further sad instalment for visiting French jockeys. Six Perfections, the favourite, received a less than exemplary ride from Thierry Thulliez, who was a very quiet man on his return.

In the early stages yesterday, Hector's Girl led in tandem with Khulood. But already the definitive manoeuvres were going on back in the pack. Kieren Fallon and Thulliez, from their low draws, were trapped on the stands rail, a fleshy wall between them and a sight of the lead.

This, though, is Fallon's house. The Irishman eased, he fiddled across, and saw a beacon in front. "I switched out because it looked cramped on the inside, because at least when you move out you have options and staying on the rail means you only have one," he said. "I was lucky I spotted [Khalid] Abdullah's filly [Intercontinental] travelling and she gave me a perfect lead. I was able to follow her through."

Thulliez, meanwhile, pulled the wheel violently to the right. Six Perfections stumbled and swerved, ultimately ending in the middle of the track. The favourite made progress, but, by the time she had unfurled her legs, Russian Rhythm had gone. At the line the winning distance was a length and a half, probably at least as much as the ground Six Perfections had forfeited. Pascal Bary, her trainer, was shattered.

The spoils belonged to Stoute and Fallon. "This is the best Guineas we've had for a long time," the jockey said, comparing Russian Rhythm favourably with his previous 1,000 Guineas winners in Sleepytime (1997) and Wince (1999). "She's better in every way," he added.

The relative merit of Refuse To Bend, Saturday's 2,000 Guineas victor, was another surprise yesterday. The handicapper gave Dermot Weld's colt a rating of 119, which makes him officially the third worst Guineas winner of modern times.

But Refuse To Bend is much more than a Guineas winner. He is unbeaten and an animal with pretensions to not only the Derby but also the St Leger. That mislaid jewel of the Triple Crown has been discovered.

The last horse to achieve merely the Guineas and Derby double was Nashwan in 1989. "This horse has got the pedigree to do it again," Willie Carson, the old horse's jockey, said. "I liked what I saw. He had the class to beat them today but you could tell from the way he ran that he is not just a miler. Pat Smullen wasn't sitting there with a double handful. He was just moving his hands forward all the time. Feeding the chickens we call it. The horse is obviously not a specialist at this distance."

Certainly, Refuse To Bend did it the difficult way on the outside of the main group. He was not afforded a nap in behind the front rank. The early pace was moribund so his turn of foot to get to the lead confirmed the colt's speed. If he has stamina too this will be a glorious summer.

The winner's father is the peerless Sadler's Wells and his dam a six-furlong horse who has already produced a Melbourne Cup winner, Media Puzzle. When all these ingredients are swirled together it is unclear what type of brew will be created. Dermot Weld, though, thinks it might be something close to champagne.

"We won't know definitely until we try but he should get a mile and a half," the trainer said. "He's a very balanced horse and you'd be hopeful he'd get the trip. He's a lovely laid-back individual and the job will hopefully to have him in the same shape for the Derby as I have him today."

THE DERBY (Epsom, 7 June): Ladbrokes ante-post odds: 7-2 Alamshar, 4-1 Refuse To Bend, 6-1 Brian Boru; William Hill: 7-2 Alamshar & Refuse To Bend, 5-1 Brian Boru, 16-1 Alberto Giacometti & New South Wales.