Mabs Cross back with a bang as she retains Palace House crown at Newmarket

Watch a full replay of how top sprinter Mabs Cross returned with a victory at Newmarket on Saturday plus interviews with Paul Mulrennan and Emma Armstrong.

Mabs Cross confirmed her status as one of the best sprinters in training when giving weight and a beating to her rivals in the Zoustar Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.

After winning the five-furlong prize 12 months ago, history repeated itself as the Michael Dods-trained five-year-old defied a 7lb penalty for her Group One success in last year’s Prix de l’Abbaye to defeat Equilateral by a neck.

Winning rider Paul Mulrennan said: “Giving that penalty away, she has proved she is the real deal. She has improved as the winter has gone on and she has got stronger.

“She had to do it the hard way, as she was always stuck out on the wing a little bit as she had nothing to race with.

“She is a very special filly and fair to play to Michael Dods – he is a dab hand with these. She will improve as well as she has not had a run this year.

“The King’s Stand, Temple, Nunthorpe and back for the Abbaye will be on the agenda, so it is happy days. This is extra special as I missed the bulk of last season (through injury), but you have got to take the highs with the lows.

“There will be plenty more good days in her. It is nice that Michael and the owners have stayed loyal to me as the phone was hopping for other people to get on her.”

Emma Armstrong, wife of winning owner David Armstrong, was equally delighted with the performance having arrived at the track with an open mind.

She said: “I am fantastically proud. We knew she was fit and well. She had the big penalty and we came with an open mind to see what we would find out.

“I think we may go to the Temple Stakes at Haydock, so hopefully at the end of the month we will see her again. I would think we will look at Royal Ascot as well.”

A re-match with the runner-up at Royal Ascot is a possibility, according to his trainer Charlie Hills.

He said: “Equilateral missed the break a bit which didn’t help, but he’s run a great race when he was in front for a long way. He’s had three quick races so we’ll give him a break now and look at the King’s Stand.”