GODOLPHIN'S policy of keeping their older horses in training can once again prove profitable if as expected the five-year-old Sulamani (2.55) wins this afternoon's £100,000 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket.

Last season Frankie Dettori's globetrotting partner tasted Group 1 glory on no less than three occasions.

First was in Dubai where he snaffled up the Sheema Classic, then it was off to the States, nabbing the big bucks in Chicago's Arlington Million and the Turf Classic at Belmont Park in New York.

What a racehorse he is and it was a bit of a surprise when Sulamani went down relatively tamely at Royal Ascot, finishing fourth behind Rakti in the ten furlong Prince Of Wales Stakes.

As is often the case no single factor was responsible for the defeat, more likely a combination of reasons including the very fast ground, a distance two furlongs short of his best, plus lack of absolute peak fitness following a long winter break.

All three of those criteria have been addressed and corrected in today's mile-and-a-half encounter, so there will be no excuses for Sulamani, a true giant in the middle-distance world rankings.

In the preceding Joss Collins Heritage Handicap, Celtic Heroine (2.20), not once out of the first two in her last six outings, bids to maintain an exceptional level of consistency.

Having hit the heights for outgoing BHB Chairman, Peter Savill, by landing the Listed Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Celtic Heroine then plumbed the depths when beaten at Hamilton, a race she palpably should have won but for being a dreadful performance by bungling jockey, Matt Henry.

Unsurprisingly, Henry has been replaced by Savill's retained rider, Kevin Darley, not likely to make the same mistake as Henry, who got himself and his horse boxed in so badly that it would taken a helicopter or vertical take off plane to extricate themselves from trouble.

The action at Catterick kicks off with the five-furlong John Church Selling Stakes, a contest at the mercy of Almaty Express (2.30) if he runs up to his official rating.

In the following Dragon Troop Tumeric Handicap, Yoshka (3.05) has the class to make it three-from-four on his try over two miles.

Yoshka is a half-brother to the dual two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Gold Cup hero Royal Rebel, a pedigree that indicates stamina is very much the strong suit of the family.

Michael Dods, in the money yet again when Hula Ballew spread-eagled the opposition at Pontefract yesterday, has cause to be hopeful about the prospects of Smith N Allan Oils (4.15) in the Louisburg Classified Stakes.

At last Wednesday's meeting Smith N Allan Oils snatched second place in the dying strides, although strictly on the ratings he's got a bit to find with some his rivals, while the stable is on fire he's got to be worth a shot at the £5,000 race.

l Kieren Fallon became the first jockey to complete a century for the year when the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Peeress won the racingpost.co.uk Fillies' Rated Stakes at Newmarket, writes TATTENHAM.

Fallon is seeking his seventh championship and his successes in 2004 on the domestic front include the two Epsom Classics, the Vodafone Derby on North Light and the Vodafone Oaks on Ouija Board.

Twenty of his wins were on the all-weather before the turf season started and they do not count in the championship race, in which he finished yesterday afternoon's meeting nine in front of Daryll Holland.

After receiving a rapturous reception from his legions of fans on his return to the winner's enclosure on the 2-1 favourite, he said: ''It is good to get to 100, especially on a horse owned by Cheveley Park Stud. They are very good to me and I love riding for them.

''I am fortunate to have been able to ride some very good horses again this year.

"I have had a few sticky patches when I have not had a winner for two or three days, but fortunately I have usually come back and had a stack.

''I had a blank day yesterday, but at least Peeress has won for me today.''

Fallon also paid tribute to his nearest pursuer Holland.

''Darryll is working very hard. He has dashed off to Southwell's evening meeting, and if I have any hiccups along the way, he is going to pick up the pieces,'' he said. ''If he won the title he would deserve it.''

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