Racing: Gossamer rewards faith of Cumani in elegant style

There are are times when size simply does not matter. Teeny little Gossamer, beaten favourite for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, put the record straight in no uncertain style in the Irish version of the Classic here yesterday. The Luca Cumani-trained filly, with Jamie Spencer standing high in the stirrup with his whip arm skywards in sheer delight, romped in four-and-a-half lengths clear of her nearest pursuer Quarter Moon.

It was the most poignant of triumphs. Gossamer's owner Gerald Leigh, one of the best-respected men in racing, is losing his long and brave battle with cancer and his beloved filly's reverse three weeks ago was a cruel blow.

That she has now justified his belief in her excellence is a fine result and Cumani's first thoughts were for the man who has been one of the longest-standing patrons at his Newmarket yard. "I am so pleased for him," he said. "He is such a great man, a loyal friend and owner through thick and thin."

Gossamer's progress down the Rowley Mile was lumpy and stuttery; here yesterday it was silky smooth and as impressive as Rock Of Gibraltar's effortless Irish 2,000 Guineas victory on Saturday.

The colt headed a Ballydoyle clean sweep when Century City and della Francesca followed him in. Yesterday, their distaff had to be content with merely second, third and fourth places. Quarter Moon stayed on stoutly to take the runner-up spot from fellow Oaks entry Starbourne and pacemaking Alstemeria. Not for the first time at this level, Sadler's Wells sired the first three home.

Gossamer is, simply, a darling. In the paddock beforehand, the rugs she was wearing, designed for a full-sized equine, trailed below her knees for a waif-like effect. On the way to post she was relaxed and happy, her pretty ears pricked with interest in the proceedings.

Once the stalls opened, though, professionalism kicked in and she gave Spencer not a single moment of concern. She moved strongly to the front after the two-furlong mark and her stride, as long as that of a much larger individual, took her owerfully clear. "I was never worried," the young Irishman confirmed, "from the moment we hit the gates." It was a second Classic for Spencer, after Tarascon in the same race four years ago.

Cumani has said in the past that he would happily ask Gossamer to marry him; now he must be planning the hymns and the reception. "She has no quirks, a wonderful temperament, and is a perfect racing machine. I am glad she has silenced the doubters," he said. "And there will be improvement to come."

Gossamer has followed in the hoofprints of her big brother Barathea, likewise beaten at Newmarket and successful here. But she has one more thing to prove, or rather disprove. All her best results have come on soggy underfoot conditions but Cumani is convinced she can be as effective on faster ground. She will be given the opportunity to show what she can do in the sun in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

Quarter Moon, as fiery as Gossamer is placid, is now second favourite to give Aidan O'Brien his third Oaks in four years but whether her temperament would cope with the crucible of Epsom must be open to question.

Rock Of Gibraltar has, unsurprisingly, emerged from the paid exercise canter that added Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas to his Newmarket success in fine fettle. His next arena of conquest, too, will be Royal Ascot, with the St James' Palace Stakes, the last of the Group One mile races for three-year-old colts before they have to take on their elders in open competition, the target. No dual Guineas winner has yet racked the treble and should the son of Danehill succeed, he will become one of those rare beasts, like Nijinsky, Mill Reef and more recently Giant's Causeway, who have won five successive Group One races.

The star among the elite older horses here yesterday proved to be another filly, Rebelline, who beat the boys in the afternoon's other top-level contest, the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Lady O'Reilly's four-year-old caught trailblazing Bach inside the furlong pole to win by two lengths, with the favourite Nayef, hating the ground, back in third.

For once, the Ballydoyle legions had to settle for second place in all the day's Group Ones. Ballingarry, ridden by Kieren Fallon, finished runner-up in the Italian Derby after the winner, locally-trained Rakti, survived a stewards' inquiry into interference through the final furlong.