Frankie Dettori produced a brilliant front-running ride aboard Mostahdaf as he lowered the colours of Paddington in a thrilling edition of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
Deputising for the suspended Jim Crowley aboard John and Thady Gosden’s Royal Ascot scorer, Dettori wasted little time in bouncing the 3-1 second favourite out of the stalls and quickly into stride, he set perfect fractions as the Shadwell-owned five-year-old made every yard of the running.
Although Ryan Moore received the desired response when askingPaddington to close the gap in the home straight, he ultimately had no answer to Mostahdaf who kept finding extra under an ultra-confident Dettori as he registered a length success and followed up the owner’s victory in the Group One contest with the imperious Baaeed 12 months ago.
Stablemate Nashwa edged her way past Paddington for the silver medal late on as the Clarehaven team enjoyed a fabulous one-two, but the day belonged to Dettori who by winning the race for the first time since 2007, moved past Lester Piggott to become the contest’s leading rider.
Mostahdaf's success was another high-profile victory in the Shadwell colours in what has been a fine campaign, with Hukum's King George verdict at Ascot and Al Husn's Nassau win at Goodwood other moments to savour in recent weeks.
Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold said: "To win the races we've done this year has been incredible - the Prince of Wales's, the King George, the Nassau and this (race). It's been an amazing year.
