Teofilo’s Tawkeel Out On Her Own In the Saint-Alary
Tawkeel | Scoop Dyga
By Tom Frary
It was another big day in the careers of Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro at Chantilly on Sunday as Shadwell’s Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) brought up a group 1 double for the trainer-jockey combination when extending her unbeaten run in style in the G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. Always travelling on an even keel in third, the winner of three minor all-weather events rushed by the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) with 350 metres to race and on to a five-length success from that rival, with the 7-5 favourite Solsticia (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) a head back in third.
Jean-Claude Rouget’s assistant Jean-Bernard Roth said of the 3-1 winner, “She is a very sweet filly with a lovely attitude, but had not shown much in her morning work so we went step-by-step with her on the all-weather. She showed improvement with every run and did well last time to win a tricky race. She quickened very nicely today and I thought that was a very impressive performance. We have two lovely fillies for Sheikh Hamdan, this one and [the Listed Prix de la Seine winner] Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}).”
Introduced at Rouget’s local track Pau Jan. 3, Tawkeel hardly lit any fireworks winning a mile maiden on the Fibresand by a length but came alive making all in Cagnes-sur-Mer’s Prix Georges Sandor on the Polytrack again at that trip Feb. 22. Post-lockdown, the homebred may have been a shade rusty when trebling her tally narrowly from Wangari (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in the 9 1/2-furlong Prix de Lormoy conditions event at Deauville May 24, but they pulled 10 lengths clear of the remainder and that Fabre homebred went on to win the Listed Prix Finlande here during the week.
Whereas the Wertheimers’ Solsticia looked too green to do herself justice as Maxime Guyon lost his whip in the home straight and the other Fabre runner Savarin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) missed the break, Tawkeel was the model of professionalism throughout. Brushing aside Roy Jackson’s purchase Magic Attitude with a fine blend of strength and panache, she will be a major force to be reckoned with if she is pitched into the G1 Prix de Diane in three weeks’ time.
The day after Teofilo’s sire Galileo established his world record at The Curragh, Darley’s Kildangan Stud resident was embellishing his astonishing reputation also as a sire of sires. Tawkeel, who becomes Teofilo’s 17th group 1 winner, is the first foal out of the Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux winner Rafaadah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who also raced for this yard. She is one of only two foals out of the high-class G2 Prix de Sandrigham winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Joanna (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who is in turn a half-sister to the G1 Livamol Classic victor Cazals (Ire) (Aussie Rules).
Tawkeel’s unraced fourth dam Marina Lady (Riverman) is a half-sister to the Listed Brownstown Stud S. winner Idle Affair (Try My Best), who produced the GIII All Along S. and GIII Glen Falls H. winner Idle Rich (Sky Classic) and the Green Desert mare Sentimental Gift who is in turn the dam of the G1 Copa de Plata heroine Alexine (Arg) (Runaway Groom). The next dam Amenity (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}) is a full-sister to the G2 Prix de Chaudenay-winning champion and sire Ashmore (Fr). Rafaadah’s unraced 2-year-old filly Buhoor (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is followed by a yearling full-brother to Tawkeel.
Sunday, Chantilly, France
SAXON WARRIOR COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY-G1, €150,000, Chantilly, 6-14, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:01.62, g/s.
1–TAWKEEL (GB), 126, f, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Rafaadah (GB) (SW-Fr), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Joanna (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Secrete Marina (Ire), by Mujadil
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €85,710. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, €122,710. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Magic Attitude (GB), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Margot Did (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (€850,000 RNA Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Roy Jackson; B-Katsumi Yoshida (GB); T-Fabrice Chappet. €34,290.
3–Solsticia (Ire), 126, f, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Solilea (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €17,145.
Margins: 5, HD, 1. Odds: 3.10, 4.30, 1.40.
Also Ran: Vaucelles (Fr), Savarin (Jpn), Again Music (Fr), Moasa (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Siyouni’s Eldama a New Rising Star At Leopardstown
Eldama | Racing Post
By Tom Frary
An entry in the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S., His Highness The Aga Khan’s Eldama (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) produced a winning performance that marked her out as a touch special in Leopardstown’s opening Fillies Maiden for debutantes on Sunday. Always travelling notably strongly under Oisin Orr behind the leading duo, the 2-1 favourite struck the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and readily asserted for a 1 3/4-length defeat of Bearberry (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), with Amiko Chow (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) a half length back in third. The first winner of the season for Dermot Weld, the homebred is from the family of the G1 Ascot Gold Cup winners Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the past Irish Oaks heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells).
Assistant trainer Kris Weld said, “She’s a nice filly. Our horses are a little bit behind because they are looking at the grass and saying that’s for eating and not necessarily for galloping on! The Curragh has been in drought since the last week of March, so training them hasn’t been the easiest. She’s done well from two to three physically and we’ll try to get her black type. That was a mile today and I’d imagine a mile and a quarter wouldn’t be a problem as her half-sister Edelmira won the Give Thanks over a mile and a half in Cork. She’s done that nicely today and you would have to be very pleased with her.”
The aforementioned G3 Give Thanks S. winner Edelmira (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) is one of two black-type performers out of the dam Elbasana (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) alongside the Listed Derby du Languedoc third Elishpour (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The triple listed-winning and dual group-placed second dam Ebaziya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) is a real influence for stamina, with Enzeli, Estimate and Ebadiyla all excelling when a test of stamina was required. Interestingly, Ebadiyla who added the G1 Prix Royal-Oak to her Irish Oaks success was covered by Green Desert and produced Eyshal (Ire) who was sharp enough to be third in the G1 National S.
Ebadiyla’s daughter Ebalista (Ire) (Selkirk) was responsible for the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer Ebiyza (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) who in turn produced the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational winner Edisa (Kitten’s Joy) and the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor). Ebaziya’s fourth group 1 winner was Edabiya (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), who defied her stout pedigree to annexe the Moyglare Stud S., while one of her other two black-type performers Eytarna (Ire) (Dubai Destination) produced the multiple group winner Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) whose career highlight came in the G2 Blandford S. Also connected to the G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. heroine Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Elbasana’s 2-year-old filly is the unraced El Hamra (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
1st-Leopardstown, €12,000, Mdn, 6-14, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:44.08, gd.
ELDAMA (IRE), f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Elbasana (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ebaziya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Ezana (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,106. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sottsass Back To Winning Ways In the Ganay
Sottsass | Scoop Dyga
It was not easy for Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Sunday’s G1 Prix Ganay at Chantilly, but White Birch Farm’s G1 Prix du Jockey-Club hero and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe third duly delivered to put his 4-year-old campaign on the right track. Settled third early by Cristian Demuro racing without cover as Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) enjoyed an unpestered lead, the even-money favourite who had been fourth in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt at ParisLongchamp May 11 gained a narrow advantage with 300 metres remaining and battled gamely as Way To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) closed in. At the line, there was just a head between them, with Shaman fading to third three lengths away.
Jean-Claude Rouget was not at the track, but his long-time right-hand man Jean-Bernard Roth was and he said, “It is a relief to see him win again, but we were not really worried beforehand. With the virus and the delayed start to the season, we didn’t want to rush him too early as he is a horse who has a tendency to worry. He didn’t really do well on his first run in each of his seasons and has improved with time, so there was no point having him at 100% for the Harcourt. We knew he would come on a lot for the run and that’s exactly what happened. He’s a horse who is a fighter and doesn’t give up, plus he also likes the course here so the win today was a reward for the hard work of everyone involved with the horse.”
Sottsass, who is the first of the heavyweight trio remaining in training to have contested the Arc, now has the jump on Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) with the latter due to return in Wednesday’s G1 Prince of Wales’s S. and the Juddmonte queen set to reappear in next month’s G1 Eclipse S. It may be that their paths will cross again only in that autumn showcase, with Sottsass likely to be still some way short of his peak despite becoming only the third colt in recent history to come back from Jockey-Club victory and win this.
Starlet’s Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has proven a revelation, producing three group winners from as many foals and two at the highest level including the four-times grade I-winning Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). The second dam is the G3 Prix Chloe runner-up Premiere Creation (Fr) (Green Tune), who also threw Starlet’s Sister’s G3 Prix Cleopatre-winning full-sibling Leo’s Starlet (Ire) and the Listed Prix Isonomy scorer and GI Clement L. Hirsch S. runner-up Anabaa’s Creation (Ire) (Anabaa). Starlet’s Sister’s as-yet unraced 3-year-old colt Radiant Child (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) cost Oceanic Bloodstock €400,000 at the 2018 Arqana August Sale, while her 2-year-old son of Fastnet Rock (Aus) named Parliament (GB) was a €700,000 purchase by David Redvers at last year’s edition of that auction. Her yearling filly is by Dubawi (Ire).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX GANAY-G1, €180,000, Chantilly, 6-14, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.38, g/s.
1–SOTTSASS (FR), 128, c, 4, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Starlet’s Sister (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Premiere Creation (Fr), by Green Tune
3rd Dam: Allwaki, by Miswaki
(€340,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-White Birch Farm; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €103,852. Lifetime Record: 9-5-0-1, €1,659,552. *1/2 to Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Ch. Turf Female-US, MGISW-US, GSW & G1SP-Fr, $3,662,003; and My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), GSW-Fr & GSP-US, $209,172. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Way To Paris (GB), 128, h, 7, Champs Elysees (GB)–Grey Way, by Cozzene. (50,000gns Ylg ’14 TATOCT). O-Paolo Ferrario; B-Grundy Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Andrea Marcialis. €41,148.
3–Shaman (Ire), 128, c, 4, Shamardal–Only Green (Ire), by Green Desert. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €20,574.
Margins: HD, 3, NK. Odds: 1.00, 2.40, 2.90.
Also Ran: Palomba (Ire), Simona (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
First Black-Type Winner For Goken At Chantilly
Livachope | Scoop Dyga
By Tom Frary
Haras de Colleville has the bragging rights after Alain Chopard’s 2-year-old filly Livachope (Fr) provided their resident first-season sire Goken (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) with the first black-type available for the current crop in Chantilly’s Listed Prix la Fleche on Sunday. Flashing early speed from her wide draw to move to the rail and the lead under Anthony Crastus, the May 13 course-and-distance maiden scorer was in front the whole way up the five-furlong straight and despite drifting right in the last furlong held on to beat fellow filly Pom Malpic (Fr) (Pomellato {Ger}) by 3/4 of a length.
The July 2 G3 Prix du Bois entry was also Goken’s first winner in a race in which the next four home have all won consequently. “The form of her first race has worked out fantastically and she’d been working nicely, so I was very confident,” her rider said. “The first time, I got her cover to give her an easy race and I think if I’d let her go she’d have won more easily so I did today. She hung right at the finish, but she also did that last time and does it at home in the mornings so it’s nothing to worry about. She really is a true 2-year-old type with lots of speed and also has a good spirit.”
Livachope is the first foal out of the Listed Criterium de Vitesse-placed Laia Chope from the family of the G3 Prix du Bois winner Cosachope (Fr) also by Soave (Ger). Connected to the Listed John O’Gaunt S. winner Mine (Ire) (Primo Dominie {GB}) and the G2 King’s Stand S. hero Bolshoi (Ire) (Royal Academy), her yearling filly by Captain Chop (Fr) is named Lizie Chope (Fr).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX LA FLECHE-Listed, €42,000, Chantilly, 6-14, 2yo, 5fT, :58.02, g/s.
1–LIVACHOPE (FR), 125, f, 2, by Goken (Fr)
1st Dam: Laia Chope (Fr) (SP-Fr), by Soave (Ger)
2nd Dam: Chopinette (Fr), by Sin Kiang (Fr)
3rd Dam: Ducie (GB), by Distant Relative (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Alain Chopard (FR); T-Jane Soubagne; J-Anthony Crastus. €21,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €32,000.
2–Pom Malpic (Fr), 125, f, 2, Pomellato (Ger)–Havanna Lady (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€11,000 Ylg ’19 OSLATE). O-Mme Theresa Marnane; B-Pierre Pasquet (FR); T-Andrew Hollinshead. €8,400.
3–Winvalchope (Fr), 125, f, 2, Kheleyf–Mademoiselle Flore (GB), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). (€3,000 RNA Ylg ’19 OSLATE). O-Bernard Giraudon; B-Alain Chopard & Christian Vallee (FR); T-Fabrice Vermeulen. €6,300.
Margins: 3/4, 5, NK. Odds: 3.80, 25.00, 7.90.
Also Ran: Giulio Cesare (Fr), Feelie Win (Ire), Night Hunting (Fr), What a Hullabaloo (Ire), Tortola (Fr), Oneonechop (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Galileo’s Peaceful Takes the Irish 1000
Peaceful Racing Post
The Curragh’s Saturday card was run on real Galileo (Ire) ground and so it was with a degree of predictability that his sole representative in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas Peaceful (Ire) relished the fast going to bring up a second fillies’ Classic in less than a week for Ballydoyle. It proved a momentous renewal for Michael Tabor, who saw the first three home carry his silks, for the supersire who was surpassing Danehill with a record 85th group 1 winner, and also for the O’Brien family with Aidan, Donnacha and Joseph responsible for the first four. Last seen finishing runner-up in Newmarket’s Listed Montrose Fillies’ S. in November, the TDN Rising Star was placed in a close-up second by Seamie Heffernan early before beginning to edge ahead from the two pole. In effect, the race was decided there and then with Peaceful’s stamina assured and at the line the 3-1 second favourite had two lengths to spare over the strong-closing Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with So Wonderful (War Front) a head back in third. Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), the strongly-supported 6-5 favourite, was only sixth.
“She had been very impressive in her homework and I did fancy her here,” commented Heffernan, who was enjoying a fourth renewal which makes him the winningmost modern-day rider in this Classic. “She did what she was showing us at home. I’ve got myself beaten plenty of times by trying to be clever, so I was comfortable where I was. From four down, I gradually stepped up the pace and whatever was going to get me had to make up three lengths. Like Love, she’s tidy and a good mover and is definitely tough enough to go to Royal Ascot next week. She could be anything.”
Aidan O’Brien, who was saddling a ninth Irish 1,000 winner as he continues to rewrite the record books, has Saturday’s G1 Coronation S. in mind for Peaceful. “She’s a lovely filly and we always thought a lot of her,” he said. “Her work had been lovely and when the other filly did that at Newmarket we were looking forward to today. She is very like Love, in that she is very uncomplicated and Seamus gave her a lovely ride. It was a big help that the ground was nice and she shouldn’t have had too hard a race. We’ll see what the lads want to do on Monday and although she’ll definitely get a mile and a quarter, she’s a strong uncomplicated miler who gets it well so the Coronation is possible.”
Peaceful started out over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in August and after reportedly becoming upset in the stalls was coaxed into ninth by Heffernan behind fellow TDN Rising Star Ridenza (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who was a late absentee from this renewal due to the prevalent quick ground. After a near two-month break, she re-emerged to show her true merit when the seven-length winner of a mile maiden on yielding-to-soft ground at Thurles in which stablemate Snow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who scored on this card was 11 lengths behind in fourth. Taken to Newmarket for the Montrose, she was beaten a neck by the newcomer Born With Pride (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) on heavy ground as Run Wild (Ger) (Amaron {GB}) finished 1 1/4 lengths off them.
After Run Wild and Ballydoyle’s leading lady Love had caused their own respective sensations at Newmarket the previous Sunday, Peaceful was moving up the ante-post market as this race neared despite the presence of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna. After the rain failed to arrive in sufficient quantity to deny the top-of-the-ground merchants, the early signs on the fixture pointed to her more and more as the evening wore on. With the aforementioned Snow and Salsa (Ire) battling out the fillies’ maiden and Lancaster House (Ire) taking the G3 Gladness S. by storm, it was a case of Galileo truly being in his counting house by the time Peaceful arrived to post.
Denied the lead by Jessie Harrington’s second-string and G3 Oh So Sharp S. runner-up Valeria Messalina (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Heffernan was nevertheless in an ideal spot and he applied the pressure to that rival to keep up as he turned the screw passing halfway. Responding to a light flick with the whip to assert from two out, the winner was soon beyond reach as Fancy Blue unwound a stirring closing effort out wide from rear under Declan McDonogh. Due an upgrade racing against the bias that often comes into play on this track when it is riding fast, the runner-up played her part in a remarkable O’Brien family whitewash completed by Joseph’s fourth-placed New York Girl (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).
O’Brien Sr was left marvelling yet again at the power of the Galileo factor. “Donnacha loved her when he won on her in Thurles last year and then she went to Newmarket and couldn’t walk a yard in the heavy ground, but still kept fighting and wasn’t beaten far at the line. That’s the sign of a really good filly, she just wouldn’t lie down. They are Galileo fillies and we are just so lucky to have them. They are beautifully-bred, big, rangy, scopey fillies and they get better and better. So Wonderful ran well to finish third. I don’t think she’ll get much further. She’s still a maiden, so we could always go back and try and win her maiden with her.”
Peaceful’s dam Missvinski (Stravinsky) was successful in the Listed Prix Zeddaan and Listed Prix Ronde de Nuit sprints on turf and all-weather before finishing shaking up the high-class Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar) when runner-up in the 2007 G1 Prix d’Astarte. Her second foal was this stable’s Listed Hurry Harriet S. winner and triple group 3-placed Easter (Ire) by Galileo who was bought by Eaton Bloodstock for 800,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls December Sale. The third dam Careless Aly (Alydar) is an unraced full-sister to the GI Turf Classic hero and G1 Epsom Derby-placed Cacoethes, as well as being kin to the GI Santa Susanna S. winner Fabulous Notion (Somethingfabulous). She is in turn the dam of the GI Test S. heroine Fabulously Fast (Deputy Minister) related to the GI Alabama S. scorer Careless Jewel (Tapit) and the GI Hollywood Derby and GI Eddie Read H. hero Subordination (Mt. Livermore). Missvinski’s yearling is a full-sister to Peaceful.
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS IRISH 1000 GUINEAS-G1, €250,000, Curragh, 6-13, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.19, g/f.
1–PEACEFUL (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Missvinski (MSW & G1SP-Fr, SP-USA, $231,715), by Stravinsky
2nd Dam: Miss U Fran, by Brocco
3rd Dam: Careless Aly, by Alydar
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €145,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $181,305. *Full to Easter (IRE), SW & MGSP-Ire, $109,475. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fancy Blue (Ire), 128, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Chenchikova (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O’Brien. €50,000.
3–So Wonderful, 128, f, 3, War Front–Wonder of Wonders, by Kingmambo. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. €25,000.
Margins: 2, HD, HD. Odds: 3.00, 12.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: New York Girl (Ire), Even So (Ire), Albigna (Ire), Apricot Moon (GB), Katiba (Ire), Valeria Messalina (Ire), Soul Search (Ire), My Lucky Penny (Ire). Scratched: Brook On Fifth (Ire), Miss Myers (Ire), Ridenza (Ire), Roca Roma (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Frankel’s Seventh Kingdom A New Rising Star at Doncaster
Seventh Kingdom | Dan Abraham
It took a while for the penny to drop, but when it did Prince Faisal’s homebred Seventh Kingdom (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was a class above going a shade over seven furlongs in Saturday’s Betway Novice S. at Doncaster, earning a TDN Rising Star tag with a daylight triumph. He was caught napping at the break, but recovered to track the leaders in third after the initial strides. Niggled along to keep his mind on the task at hand from halfway, the well-backed 6-5 favourite swooped for control passing the quarter-mile marker and lengthened further clear of toiling rivals in the closing stages to outclass Longlai (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}) by a geared-down four lengths in taking fashion.
“He’s got a very good mind, he’s a very laid-back horse in general and that was a pleasing debut,” said rider David Egan. “He was lucky in that they didn’t go a quick pace early on because he was slowly away and quite green for the first half of the race. It took him a while to get into his stride, but once he did so in the last two furlongs he lengthened right away from the field.”
Seventh Kingdom is the latest foal out of G1 Gran Criterium heroine Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), whose four winners include Listed Guisborough S. third Lahore (Elusive Quality). Descendants of his MGSP Listed Empress S.-winning second dam Massarra (GB) (Danehill) include G2 Superlative S. victor and G1 St. James’s Palace S. runner-up Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Silver Flash S. victress Wonderfully (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Listed Sprint S. winner Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Massarra is a daughter of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}) and thus kin to six black-type performers headed by G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert), G3 Ormonde S. scorer Sadian (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) and G3 Hackwood S.-winning sire Kodiac (GB) (Danehill).
4th-Doncaster, £5,400, Mdn, 6-13, 2yo, 7f 6yT, 1:27.71, g/s.
SEVENTH KINGDOM (GB), c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Nayarra (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ity, G1SW-Ity, MGSP-Eng & MSP-US, $268,629), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Massarra (GB), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rafha (GB), by Kris (GB)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,381. O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
