Ramonti runs out of form

Archipenko, ridden by Kevin Shea, wins the Plymouth Gin Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot yesterday.

The Godolphin-owned Ramonti put in a sorry display at Ascot yesterday in the Plymouth Gin Summer Mile. He finished fifth out of a field of seven in a race won by Archipenko. Last year the son of Martino Alonso won four Group 1 contests, two at the Berkshire track, so racing fans could have been forgiven for expecting a decent display from the Dubai-based operation's flag-bearer. To further whet their appetites, Hala Bek, also trained by Saeed bin Suroor, put in a consummate performance at Newmarket on Thursday, having not raced for over two years.

Ramonti raced wide under Frankie Dettor for much of the first three furlongs, in the slipstream of Kandidate, who took the lead from the off. As the field swept into the straight, Dettori started to push Ramonti and it was alarming how quickly his challenge bottomed out. The stable's other runner, Elusive Warning, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, finished sixth. To be fair to Suroor the six-year-old was coming back from injury, having last seen a racecourse in December when winning a Group 1 at Sha Tin, and is sure to have greater targets during the rest of the season. And to be fairer still, Suroor went on the record on Friday in order to prepare Ramonti's legion of fans what to expect this afternoon. "We have been patient with Ramonti," he said. "He will need the race."

Still, it was an alarming performance, and one which does not bode too well for the chances of Godolphin's Rio De La Plata in the Group 1 Abu Dhabi Sorouh Prix Jean Prat (4.45pm) at Chantilly in France this afternoon. @Email:[e-mail]