Dubawi’s Ghaiyyath Takes the Eclipse
Ghaiyyath takes the Coral-Eclipse | Racing Post
Charlie Appleby had relayed loud and clear that Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was now the horse he had been waiting for and Godolphin’s dynamic performer proved the point in style in Sunday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Casual this time getting to the front after the first half a furlong, the 9-4 second favourite was stalked by Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) taken back early racing four lengths off his tempo. Tackling the headwind up the straight as Japan chased hard, the G1 Coronation Cup hero had to draw on his significant reserves to plough on uphill to the line as the returning even-money favourite Enable stayed on down the outer. Her progress was a touch laboured, as John Gosden had suggested it might be when declaring her “85%” beforehand, and the leader was ultra-game to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths, with Enable denying Japan the runner’s-up spot by a head.
Jockey William Buick had every fraction right and he said, “He’s got a huge cruising speed and he knows how to use it. It was his first go over a mile and a quarter in a group one and he was in a nice rhythm the whole way. Charlie had him in great shape. We were obviously concerned about Enable coming into the race, but it was her first run of the season and I’m sure she’ll improve from the race.”
Re-setting Newmarket’s Rowley Mile’s mile-and-a-half track record a month previously when leading Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) a merry dance in the Coronation Cup, Ghaiyyath was putting two big efforts back-to-back after his 8 1/2-length success in the Feb. 20 G3 Dubai Millennium at Meydan. That suggested that the 5-year-old had turned a corner from last term, when one of his typically audacious front-running displays tended to be followed by a drop-off the next time. That was the case when his remarkable 14-length win in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden preceded a dive in fortunes in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, but it is widely-held that he went off too fast in testing ground there.
Having not always been comfortable on ground with some bounce, it holds no fears for the imposing bay these days and he was unhurried by William Buick despite not breaking best. It may have taken him a few strides to get into his customary position, but when he got there he was free to do as he pleased with the only other pace angles Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) restrained. Frankie was intent on keeping Enable away from the possibility of a prolonged duel, but when the time came to join pursuit she had a touch less than her customary zip. Japan gave way eventually as Ghaiyyath maintained his momentum and it was clear on the rising ground to the line that Juddmonte’s mare would not be adding another prestige event to her illustrious tally.
“As a horse, you go with what Ghaiyyath wants to do–he’s not a horse who likes to be controlled,” Buick added. “You just sit against him, let him use his huge stride and go when he’s ready. He’s a joy to ride and a very, very good horse. As a five-year-old he’s mature physically and mentally–he’s becoming the finished article. I think a mile and a quarter will be his optimum trip, as he’s very fast. Sometimes when you ride him over a mile and a half you’re always worried the last furlong is going to be a long one, but he keeps going.”
Charlie Appleby, 45 on Sunday, was enjoying the perfect gift and said, “He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard and we’ve seen the performances he can put up. Obviously he’d been an emphatic winner in France and in Germany and out in Dubai, but I think the Coronation Cup win gained him a lot of fans and support. We were never concerned about dropping him back to the 10 furlongs today. He’s got loads of pace and statistically this track suits front-runners. We had immense respect for Enable, who I felt lost nothing in defeat–it was a great battle up the straight.”
“This year he seems to be taking his races better,” he added. “We toyed with the idea of going for the [G2] Prince of Wales’s Stakes after the Coronation Cup, but we thought we’d give ourselves an extra couple of weeks and we know this track can favour a front runner. The [G1] Juddmonte International at York would be up there. He’s shown his versatility now, winning over 10 and 12 furlongs. You don’t beat Enable having an easy run, so we’ll see where we are over the next week and then decide whether we head to York or whether he needs a bit more time. There’s plenty of racing coming up over the autumn, so I don’t think we need to be making any rash decisions. Our plan was always to work back from another crack at the Arc. If Enable is in it, we’ll just have to take her on again.”
John Gosden was thinking about Ascot in three weeks’ time and a third King George for the runner-up. “I’m delighted with her,” he said. “She ran a gorgeous race. We know Ghaiyyath and as I warned everybody it is a great front-runners track, Sandown. If he gets free on the front, as he is a fabulous horse, you are never going to get to him. We found that out in the Coronation. She has put in a perfect performance and has come with a lovely run. I’m delighted with the way she came there. Frankie said the last half a furlong she just needed it, so he looked after her. It is the perfect platform we were looking for for the King George. We were very happy.”
“She enjoyed it and her zest and desire is there, but trying to get involved with a front-running horse like him was never going to be her deal. I think I did warn everybody about that left, right and centre. She is an older mare now and it has taken a great deal more to get her to this point, but she has run a beautiful race and I couldn’t be more thrilled with her. We knew coming we were 85 per cent and you are not going to beat a front-running horse like that around here. She has run the most perfect race to point towards the King George.”
Ghaiyyath is a son of the dominant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has also produced the GI Man o’War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. winner Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War). From the family of the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King’s Drama (Ire) (King’s Theatre {Ire}), Nightime has understandably become something of a legend at the major sales auction houses.
Zhukova was bought by Sheikh Mohammed for 3.7million gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, while the following year’s auction saw Stroud Coleman Bloodstock pay 700,000gns for the Foal Sale’s top-priced full-brother to Ghaiyyath who is now named New Kingdom (Ire). At the Goffs November Foals Sale in November, Nightime’s latest son of Dubawi set a new record when again being knocked down to Godolphin for €1.2million.
Sunday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £250,000, Sandown, 7-5, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:04.48, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 129, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
(€1,100,000 Wlg ’15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £141,775. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 11-14, G1SW-Ger, MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-UAE, 11-8-0-2, $762,840. *1/2 to Zhukova (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS)), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-USA & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Enable (GB), 126, m, 6, Nathaniel (Ire)–Concentric (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £53,750.
3–Japan (GB), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Shastye (Ire), by Danehill. (1,300,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Masaaki Matsushima; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O’Brien. £26,900.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1HF. Odds: 2.25, 1.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Magic Wand (Ire), Deirdre (Jpn), Regal Reality (GB), Bangkok (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Deep Impact’s Fancy Blue Prevails in the Diane
Deep Impact
Aidan O’Brien has yet to win the G1 Prix de Diane Longines and son Donnacha has the jump on him in his first season training after Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) battled to glory in Sunday’s Chantilly Classic. Runner-up but the major eye-catcher in the June 13 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh, Michael Tabor’s second-string behind the winner of that Classic Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was always close to the pace set by the G1 Coronation S. heroine Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}). Gaining the edge with 300 metres remaining, the 8-1 shot kept finding to deny that 2-1 favourite in a nip-and-tuck finale. At the line, she had a short neck to spare over the Niarchos homebred, with two heads separating Peaceful and Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a four-way thriller.
“This is another great moment in a very strange season, but it’s all going well now,” winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot commented. “I’m absolutely thrilled to win a first Classic for such a young trainer and he said she was very straightforward and easy to ride and would stay very well. We didn’t go very fast in front, but it wasn’t in our interest nor that of Stephane Pasquier to set the pace for the others. She really put her heart into it for me.”
Donnacha is only 21 and was understandably delighted to become the third member of his family to train a Classic winner. “There’s so much pressure and a lot of work goes into it, but this feeling is great,” he said. “I always knew she was a very good filly and we always thought the step up in trip would suit her. Pierre is a very good rider and I told him to do what he wants. There was no pace early so he went forward on her and sat upsides the leader. It was exactly what I would have liked him to do. She quickened up well and stuck at it. We’ll get her home and see how she is. We might have a look at the [G1] Irish Oaks at The Curragh.”
Trained at Ballydoyle last term, Fancy Blue was off the mark on debut over seven furlongs at Naas in September before taking the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. at The Curragh the following month. Making up an abundance of ground out wide against the bias in the Irish Guineas, she was at the forefront here and from some way out had only Alpine Star to beat. Despite the oncoming threat of Peaceful and Raabihah to her left, it was the market-leader down on the rail who she had to subdue and she finally did so in the last 50 metres.
Alpine Star’s trainer Jessie Harrington said of the runner-up, “She’s gone very close and it was a whisker either way. Maybe the ground was a bit too quick for her, but that’s life. It’s quite a funny feeling to be disappointed after running second in a group one. She ran her heart out. It’s pretty quick after Ascot and I’m delighted with her. She seems to stay and she did everything right.”
Fancy Blue is out of Chenchikova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), who was also responsible for the Listed Star Appeal S. winner and G1 Dewhurst S. third Smuggler’s Cove (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and his dual listed-winning full-brother Casterton (Ire). The second dam Kasora (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) was “Broodmare of the Year” in 2002 and 2003 courtesy of the exploits of Chenchikova’s famed full-brother, the G1 Epsom and Irish Derby and dual GI Breeders’ Cup Turf hero and leading sire High Chaparral (Ire) and his G2 Dante S.-winning full-brother Black Bear Island (Ire) who was also runner-up in the GI Secretariat S. Also connected is the listed-placed Treasure the Lady (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who is in turn the second dam of this year’s G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial winner Love Locket (Ire) (No Nay Never). Kasora is also the second dam of the G3 Hampton Court S. winner Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was third in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational as well, and the G2 Beresford S. scorer and G1 National S. third David Livingston (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Chenchikova also has an as-yet unraced filly by Zoffany (Ire) named Miss Chess (Ire) and a yearling filly by Caravaggio.
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €600,000, Chantilly, 7-5, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:05.46, g/s.
1–FANCY BLUE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Chenchikova (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
2nd Dam: Kasora (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Kozana (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O’Brien; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €342,840. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Ire, 4-3-1-0, €432,092. *1/2 to Smuggler’s Cove (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), SW-Ire & G1SPEng, $137,682; and Casterton (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), MSW & GSP-Fr, $163,024. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Alpine Star (Ire), 126, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €137,160.
3–Peaceful (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Missvinski, by Stravinsky. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €68,580.
Margins: SNK, HD, HD. Odds: 8.10, 2.10, 3.90.
Also Ran: Raabihah, Magic Attitude (GB), Ebaiyra, Solsticia (Ire), Speak of the Devil (Fr), Miss Extra (Fr), Mageva (GB), Vadsena (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Make Believe’s Mishriff Takes the Jockey Club
Mishriff takes the Prix du Jockey Club | Scoop Dyga
While John Gosden was overseeing the comeback of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Sandown, Clarehaven were making their considerable presence felt at Chantilly as Prince Faisal’s Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) captured the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Impressive when dominating the June 6 Listed Newmarket S., the Nawara Stud homebred was ridden forward to a prominent position from his favourable draw by Ioritz Mendizabal and that made a world of difference due to the lack of a strong tempo. Eventually getting a gap inside the final furlong, the 15-2 shot hit the front 100 metres from the finish and surged away for a 1 3/4-length defeat of The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), with the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains hero Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) a neck back in third.
“John Gosden is without any doubt one of the best trainers in the world and just getting the call to ride was already an honour,” Mendizabal said. “He’s a top-class horse and I had the perfect trip. Mr Gosden told me not to break the action of the horse and to give him as much of a fluent trip than I could and that’s exactly what happened. He was perfectly relaxed after taking a little bit of a hold on the first turn and when he found the gap he really exploded. He was perfectly prepared for that and all I had to do was to finish the job. I think he’ll stay further and will have no trouble with a mile and a half. To win another Classic after all these years feels like the first time over again.”
Having been fourth over seven furlongs on debut at Yarmouth and third over a mile at Newbury in the space of 11 days in October, Mishriff bounced out of those encounters to score by 10 lengths over an extended mile on heavy ground at Nottingham in early November. Second to Full Flat (Speightstown) in the Feb. 29 Saudi Derby at Riyadh, he returned to Europe to put the subsequent Listed Fairway S. winner Volkan Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in his place with a four-length success in the Newmarket. Close up behind Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and TDN Rising Star Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah) initially as TDN Rising Star Victor Ludorum was forced to the rear after a tardy start, Mishriff was ideally placed as the pressure increased in early straight.
While Mickael Barzalona was winding up the 2-1 favourite Victor Ludorum on the outside with lengths to make up, Mendizabal was looking for racing room which was denied him at first. Switched to come around The Summit and baulking Pao Alto (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in the process, he was level with Victor Ludorum 100 metres from the line but while the latter had used up all his gas to get on terms Mishriff had plenty left and settled the result quickly. The winner’s interference to Pao Alto prompted an inquiry, but the result was allowed to stand.
Gosden commented, “He is a lovely horse. The owner-breeder was very keen to go for the Prix du Jockey Club and Mr Mendizabal rode him beautifully after we discussed it this morning. I thought the most impressive part of the race was the last 100 metres. It is my first French Derby, but I’ve messed up a couple before! He has done nothing wrong really. He got left behind in Saudi Arabia, then finished the race strongly behind a horse that had Breeders’ Cup form. I’m fascinated trip-wise, as he got that extended mile and a quarter. Do we stay at that sort of trip, maybe we do. It was a great result.”
Ted Voute, racing manager to owner Prince Faisal, added, “I actually thought he was in a bit of trouble at one stage. It’s probably not his ideal ground, but he really picked up once he got into a good position. He has improved a lot from two to three–funnily enough, so did Make Believe. It’s obviously fantastic for the Prince that Make Believe has now sired a Classic winner for him. The way he finished there today, it looks like a mile and a half wouldn’t be a problem, so the [G1] Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe could be an option.”
The Summit was running another big race for the Henri-Alex Pantall stable and new owners Lily Chan Li Lei and Marc Chan, with this being a second Classic placing having finished in the same spot in the Poulains. “I had doubts about the trip, but with his dam being by Acatenango I thought he might,” his trainer said. “He almost did it, but we have no excuses–he was beaten by a better horse on the day and has run a great race. We’ll see how he comes out of it and decide what to do next.” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the real eye-catcher of the race, “Victor Ludorum was outstayed by a good winner, but the race wasn’t run to suit him and it all went wrong at the start. He showed a great turn of foot in the straight before finding Mishriff too strong near the line. He has still run very well and we will regroup before deciding any future plans.”
Mishriff hails from his sire’s first crop and becomes his first group 1 as well as Classic winner. He is currently the last known foal out of the useful Contradict (GB) (Raven’s Pass) who also produced the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick winner Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and last year’s G3 Craven S. and G3 Supreme S. runner-up Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}). The second dam Acts of Grace (Bahri) took the G3 Princess Royal S. and is one of four stakes winners out of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine and influential producer Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}). Her leading performer is the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning leading sire Invincible Spirit (Ire), while she is also responsible for another sire of note in Kodiac (GB) and his Listed Empress S.-winning full-sister Massarra (GB), whose progeny is headed by the Classic-placed Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB-G1, €900,000, Chantilly, 7-5, 3yo, c/f, 10 1/2fT, 2:04.01, g/s.
1–MISHRIFF (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Make Believe (GB)
1st Dam: Contradict (GB), by Raven’s Pass
2nd Dam: Acts of Grace, by Bahri
3rd Dam: Rafha (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Company Ltd (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Ioritz Mendizabal. €514,260. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 6-3-1-1, €679,493. *1/2 to Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SW-Fr; and Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), MGSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Summit (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Acola (Fr), by Acatenango (Ger). (€16,000 Ylg ’18 AROCT). O-Marc Chan & Mme Lei Li; B-SARL Jedburgh Stud (FR); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. €205,870.
3–Victor Ludorum (GB), 128, c, 3, Shamardal–Antiquities (GB), by Kaldounevees (Fr). O/B-Godolphin; T-Andre Fabre. €102,870.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 1. Odds: 7.50, 21.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Dawn Intello (Fr), Port Guillaume (Fr), Pao Alto (Fr), Order of Australia (Ire), Fantastic Spirit (Fr), Hurricane Dream (Fr), Ocean Atlantique, Gold Trip (Fr), San Fabrizio (Fr), Chachnak (Fr), Ecrivain (Fr), Fort Myers, Pisanello (Ire). Scratched: Celtic Art (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Galileo’s Serpentine Dominates the Derby
Emmet McNamara looks back and sees no challengers aboard Serpentine | Racing Post
It was a clear-record eighth G1 Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday for Aidan O’Brien, but not necessarily with the expected one as Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) went off on his own under Emmet McNamara and did a “Slip Anchor” to score by 5 1/2 lengths. Always clear at the head of affairs, the previous Saturday’s nine-length Curragh maiden winner was still dangerously out of reach swinging around Tattenham Corner and kept grinding to lead home a shock trifecta. Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), Andrew Balding’s second string behind the fourth-placed 5-2 favourite Kameko (Kitten’s Joy), held on for second at 50-1 by a half length from Ballydoyle’s 66-1 shot Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Derrick Smith’s son Paul summed up the bizarre turn of events in the most bizarre of years. “When you’ve got Galileo and you’ve got Aidan, anything is possible,” he said. “They let him go and he just ran for fun. It was an incredible race to watch and once they’d left him alone I thought ‘this is going to be interesting’. Galileo is the holy one and long may it last.”
Aidan O’Brien was back at base and said, “It’s unbelievable really. He has some pedigree and we always thought he would stay well. Wayne [Lordan] won on him over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh last week and he galloped straight through the line. He went an even pace and Wayne said he couldn’t pull him up. We were happy he wasn’t going to stop and go an even pace. He wasn’t going to come back. He’s another homebred by Galileo. He always had the Derby pedigree. He took a bit of time to come last year and just had the one run. There was no doubt with his performance the last day he had to take his chance. I’m absolutely delighted for Emmet. He gave him an incredible ride, so I’m over the moon. They all run on their merits and we give them the best instructions for each horse to win the race. He stayed well and there was no point waiting with him with no pace. We are always delighted if one of them wins.”
Just over a week previously, Serpentine was a twice-raced unplaced maiden very much on the fringes of the stable’s candidates for this 241st renewal. In the opener on the Irish Derby card, the chestnut had put himself in the picture with a dynamic front-running display under Wayne Lordan and there had been a quiet word that he was fancied to outrun his odds here. For McNamara, the race was as straightforward as it gets and he was able to play Steve Cauthen in isolation as the great Kentuckian had when catching his peers by surprise in 1985. Hitting the first left-hand turn, the eventual first three home were in those positions which suggests the track was playing very much to front-runners on the day.
Much of the race was uneventful, but running downhill to Tattenham Corner Khalifa Sat was at full stride trying to stay within hailing distance of Serpentine and all the fancied horses were already struggling to make any inroads. Just as Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had in last year’s G1 Irish Derby in these same grey Susan Magnier silks, Serpentine kept rolling and by the half-mile marker it was clear from McNamara’s body language that his mount was still comfortable. A furlong from home, the result was settled with the wall of favourites unable to even get past Khalifa Sat. Finishing in a heap behind the runner-up and the Rosegreen maiden Amhran Na Bhfiann, the riders of Kameko, English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will perhaps be inflicting self-incriminations for letting the winner go.
According to Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy was already castigating himself in the immediate aftermath. “Oisin is cross with himself, but I don’t know why,” the master of Kingsclere said. “Kameko ran well to a point and Oisin just felt he emptied out a little bit late on. He will certainly be dropping back in trip and that’s his last run over a mile and a half. We had to give it a go and Sheikh Fahad is a proper sportsman, so he’ll take it on the chin. I’m thrilled with Khalifa Sat, he’s a very nice horse for the future and ran a great Leger trial. Fair play to Aidan, he’s got the ammo and he knows how to use it.”
Ed Walker said of the fifth-placed English King, “The way the race panned out was frustrating, purely and simply. I am thrilled with everything–proud as punch of the horse, Frankie did well from a difficult draw. I have got no excuses, it was just a frustrating race. A Derby with no pace–there is no such thing these days, really–and we needed pace. He has hit the line hard and in another 50 yards he might have been second.”
Aidan O’Brien’s eight Derby winners have been ridden by seven different jockeys and the precedent was there for McNamara to cause an upset. “I think I got a little bit of a freebie,” commented the rider, who had gone so close on Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Saturday’s Irish equivalent. “I had a huge amount of confidence in the horse, having spoken to Aidan during the week. He said he was a horse that is going to stay a mile and six well, he said ‘jump, go your own tempo and just from halfway, from the six to the five, give him a breather’. He said ‘he’ll keep going’ and he was right. All I could here was the horse breathing. He was in a good rhythm, he was relaxed and I couldn’t hear a thing around me. I wasn’t sure, but I knew I was a few clear all right. It’s a bit surreal. I can’t believe it.”
Serpentine, who was beaten a total of 16 lengths when 10th of 11 on debut in a maiden over an extended mile at Galway in September and fifth at The Curragh June 12 before he turned his fortunes around so dramatically, is no surprise winner of this on pedigree at least. His dam is the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. winner Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was third before being latterly awarded the runner-up spot in the 2010 G1 Epsom Oaks. Her progeny are all by Galileo and are the G2 Kilboy Estate S. winner and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Wedding Vow (Ire), the G3 Blue Wind S. winner Bye Bye Baby (Ire) who was also third in the 2018 G1 Epsom Oaks, the G3 Gallinule S. scorer Beacon Rock (Ire) and the Listed Trigo S. scorer Bound (Ire).
Remember When is a three-parts-sister to the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 Irish Derby-winning champion Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill), as well as being kin to the shock G1 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Queen’s Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge), who is the second dam of the G2 Lowther S. winner Queen Kindly (GB) by Galileo’s Frankel (GB). Remember When also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Galileo and a yearling colt by the same sire.
Saturday, Epsom, Britain
INVESTEC 241ST DERBY-G1, £500,000, Epsom, 7-4, 3yo, 12f 6yT, 2:34.43, gd.
1–SERPENTINE (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Remember When (Ire) (G1SP-Eng & SP-Ire, $146,679), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lagrion, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Wrap It Up (Ire), by Mount Hagen (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Emmet McNamara. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $364,410. *Full to Wedding Vow (Ire), GSW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, $316,572; Bye Bye Baby (Ire), GSW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, $231,258; Beacon Rock (Ire), GSW-Ire & MGSP-Eng, $238,190; and Bound (Ire), SW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Khalifa Sat (Ire), 126, c, 3, Free Eagle (Ire)–Thermopylae (GB), by Tenby (GB). (€20,000 Wlg ’17 GOFNOV; €40,000 Ylg ’18 GOFOR). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Declan Phelan & Irish National Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £107,500.
3–Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Alluring Park (Ire), by Green Desert. (1,300,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lodge Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £53,800.
Margins: 5HF, HF, NO. Odds: 25.00, 50.00, 66.00.
Also Ran: Kameko, English King (Fr), Mogul (GB), Russian Emperor (Ire), Vatican City (Ire), Gold Maze (GB), Highland Chief (Ire), Pyledriver (GB), Mohican Heights (Ire), Mythical (Fr), Max Vega (Ire), Emissary (GB), Worthily. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
by TDN
