Dick Turpin upsets at Newbury

Dick Turpin picked the pocket of his Richard Hannon-trained stablemate Canford Cliffs to win the Group 3, $100,000 Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, thrusting himself into the European Guineas picture in the process.

The 10-11 Canford Cliffs was on the verge of stealing the seven-furlong contest on the front end when he began drifting steadily left under Richard Hughes at the furlong pole. The 8-1 Dick Turpin, who had been tracking the leader throughout, kept to a straight line under Ryan Moore to win by a half-length in a quick 1:22.72 on ground labeled good, good to firm in places. Arcano, who had beaten Canford Cliffs into third in the six-furlong, Group 1 Prix Morny in August, was third, seven lengths behind Canford Cliffs, clearly having failed to stay the distance.

Afterward Hannon hinted that Dick Turpin, who is by the Nureyev stallion Arakan and who had won the six-furlong, Group 2 Richmond Stakes last year before failing in a pair of seven-furlong Group 1's, might skip the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1 in favor of either the French or Irish versions.

Puff rallies to win Fred Darling

Puff took advantage of a group of fillies who were unlikely to stay seven furlongs in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes. In a race in which four different horses had the lead, Puff rallied late to defeat six-furlong, Group 3 Albany Stakes winner Habaayib by a neck. The 13-8 favorite, Lady of the Desert, the winner of a Group 2 and a Group 3 at six furlongs last year, led briefly inside the eighth pole but faded to third, 1o1/4 lengths behind the winner.

The 7-1 Puff, who covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.80 under Joe Crowley, had been fourth behind 1000 Guineas favorite Special Duty last fall in the six-furlong, Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes before finishing second at the same distance in the listed Bosra Sham Stakes. A daughter of Camacho trained by Ralph Beckett, she will try Special Duty again in the 1000 Guineas on May 2.

Harbinger starts year victoriously

Harbinger showed considerable improvement to win the 1 1/2-mile, Group 3 John Porter Stakes in his seasonal debut. The winner of the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood in July, he had failed in his St. Leger prep when he was last of seven as the favorite in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes.

On Saturday the 11-2 Harbinger led at the quarter pole under Ryan Moore and ran out a three-length winner over the 9-2 choice, Manifest. A 4-year old son of Dansili trained by Michael Stoute, Harbinger will be a candidate for all of the big 1 1/2-mile races in Europe this year.