Frankie makes his Opinion count

Opinion Poll and Frankie Dettori (far side) hang on for victory in the Artemis Goodwood Cup. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Opinion Poll received a great ride from Frankie Dettori to land this afternoon’s Artemis Goodwood Cup, the third race in the QIPCO British Champions Series Long Distance division.

It was Dettori’s third Series race victory following Blue Bunting in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Rewilding in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and it moves him into second place in the Jockey of the Series table, one winner behind Tom Queally.

Mahmood Al Zarooni, who trained all three of Dettori’s winners, now lies in third place in the trainers’ table behind Sir Henry Cecil and Aidan O’Brien.

For Opinion Poll it was thoroughly deserved victory after finishing runner-up to Fame And Glory in the Gold Cup at Ascot last month, the second Long Distance race in the Series.

Frankie held the Godolphin-owned Opinion Poll up in midfield as Overturn set a strong pace in front.

When Overturn kicked clear rounding the bend into the straight, it looked for a while as if Richard Hughes might have stolen the race.

Frankie did not panic, however, and produced his mount with a strong run from over two furlongs to lead approaching the final furlong.

Opinion Poll kept galloping to the line as his pursuers bore down on him, hanging on by a head from Lost In The Moment, also owned by Godolphin, with Blue Bajan a neck away in third and Fox Hunt a further short-head back in fourth.

"He was pulling up in front at the end but he’s an honest horse and never runs a bad race,” said a jubilant Dettori.

"I took him on the outside and got him going in plenty of time and, as it happened, I was there plenty early enough."

The next Long Distance race is the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York on Saturday 20 August.

For the full result of the Artemis Goodwood Cup, CLICK HERE.