Hambleton Joy For Always Smile

Always Smile (Saeed bin Suroor/James Doyle) continued her upward curve with a neck victory on her first start for nearly 11 months in the mile Listed Betfred TV Hambleton Handicap at York, UK, on Thursday, May 12.

The lightly-raced four-year-old filly, appearing for the fifth time, enjoyed her fourth victory. She went down by a nose on her other start, in the Listed Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot in June last year.

John Ferguson, Chief Executive and Racing Manager of Godolphin, was delighted with the Cape Cross filly.

He said: "Always Smile is another example of Saeed's patience."The filly has been off the track since Royal Ascot last year and Saeed has taken his time with her. It has paid off.

"She had a muscle problem and a bit of jarring up - she just wasn't quite right. Then the autumn came and her coat went so we were better off waiting until this year.

"It is now all systems go for the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (1m) at Royal Ascot, the G2 on the Wednesday (June 15)."

James Doyle added: "I made a catastrophic error when I rode Always Smile at Royal Ascot last year - I rode her like a 7lb claimer with no confidence at all.

"She's a high-class filly and she showed it today, so it is nice to get her back on the track. It's a great effort by everyone after such a long lay-off.

"Always Smile is a filly that you have to get there as late as you can but I had to go early because I could see Ryan Moore getting going on the runner-up (Convey).

"She toughed it out well - she had a little look late on but that is just her way."