Alcohol Free Heads Banner Year For Gaffneys

It would be perfectly natural to feel some regret for having sold a mare in the same year that she foaled a subsequent treble Group 1 winner. But you will hear nothing of the sort from Michael Gaffney of Churchtown House Stud, breeder of Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never).

“We are absolutely thrilled with what she has done. We are very proud of her and very pleased for her owner Jeff Smith,” says Gaffney. “It's a huge thing for us to have bred a filly like her–we are not a big farm.”

With her defeat of 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in last week's G1 Qatar Sussex S., the star of Andrew Balding's high-flying stable augmented a CV which already had an extremely classy look to it following her win in last year's G1 Cheveley Park S. and conquering of Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot. Alcohol Free is a rare non-homebred to race in the famous colours of Littleton Stud, which is owned by one of the stalwarts of British Thoroughbred breeding in Jeff Smith, whose previous win in Goodwood's prestigious mile contest had come with Chief Singer (GB) (Ballad Rock {GB}) back in 1984.

The Co Cork farm where she was born and raised is run by Gaffney with his wife Anne on a principally commercial footing. It is home to around 12 mares, with nine foals on the ground this year.

“In everything we have ever sold–foals, yearlings or mares–we have always wished the very best for the next person, because over the years every time we have sold a good horse to someone they have always come back and looked at our horses,” says Gaffney. “For us it's about building up a rapport with people and hoping for repeat business. And when it's a family that you know and can talk about that has always worked very well for us.”

Alcohol Free's family is just that and has come full circle. For though her dam Plying (Hard Spun) was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock and raced in Sheikh Mohammed's colours, her grandam, the listed-placed winner Nasaieb (Ire) (Fairy King), had in turn been bred by Churchtown House Stud.

“It was a family that we had before that was very good to us, and we bought back into it when we bought Plying,” Gaffney explains. “We bred Nasaieb and we had her dam here, Atyaaf. So we lost the family, we tried to get back into it and that's how we ended up with Plying. I suppose we are a farm that loves families, and we try to build out from them knowing what works and what doesn't for them. With Plying, she just didn't work out for us and at some stage you just have to face up to that and that's what we did.”

Plying had been bought from Darley by the Gaffneys in 2013 for €12,000 and she was sold five years later at the Goffs November Sale for €21,000, two days after her then-unnamed No Nay Never foal had caught the eye of Littleton Stud manager David Bowe, who bought her for €40,000. The mare's only other winner to date is Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who, Like Alcohol Free, demonstrated a love of soft ground when landing the listed Prix le Fabuleux at Chantilly for Anne-Sophie Crombez.

Gaffney, whose brother Tom manages Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud, continues, “As well as foals and yearlings we sell the odd mare from time to time as you're always trying to replenish your stock. We have pivoted a little bit in the last number of years and kept a share in the offspring of some of our better mares and raced a few of them. That has worked out very well for us and this year seems to be one of those absolute purple years for us.”

The purple patch has included the smart Fozzy Stack-trained Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the winner of the G3 Marble Hill S. and runner-up in the G2 Railway S. who is likely to be seen next in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. on Sunday. The juvenile was bred and initially raced in a partnership by the farm before being sold privately to Craig Bernick and Antony Beck in June.

The stud's credentials have also been enhanced in America by Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a 500,000gns Book 1 yearling sold to Mike Ryan two years ago. Recently third in the GI Belmont Oaks for Chad Brown, Higher Truth is a daughter of Churchtown House's G3 Ballycorus S. winner Wannabe Better (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) whose first foal, Lady Wannabe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), also trained by Stack, was retained to race in partnership with Clem and Barbara Murphy and won last season's G3 Darley S.

“We have another filly we bred called Sure Break (Ire) with Neil Drysdale in America and she is two from three, so we are having a glorious year,” says Gaffney. “Three of our other horses are rated 90 or over, so I suppose it's like what they say about buses, but every farm needs a year like this every now and then. The absolute brilliant thing about horses is that you never know, and every now and then something comes along and surprises you.”

The prowess of Alcohol Free, who is the highest-earning filly in Britain and Ireland this year, and behind only Derby and King George winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) overall, did perhaps not come as a total surprise to her breeder, however.

“She was an exceptionally good-looking filly, possibly didn't have the best action, and as you know going to the sales everybody wants this big-walking horse and she possibly didn't have that. But as an individual she was the eye-catcher in the field,” Gaffney recalls.

“David Bowe saw her at the sales and fair dues to him, he could see what a beauty she was, and in David's favour was not having to resell her. For us, we're so proud of Alcohol Free because it just proves we've got back after a long time to breeding a Group 1 horse again. We had Wannabe Grand (Ire) on the farm a good number of years ago and that family has really flourished for us, and that's the most important thing.”

He adds, “What has made it even more special with Alcohol Free is that Oisin Murphy used to live in Churchtown with his uncle Jim Culloty and we would have known him when he was really small, so it's a most fantastic tie-up. Everybody in Churchtown has been very proud of Oisin and we were very proud of what Jim did for an area like Churchtown when he was training here. I know they are Kerrymen and we are here in Cork over the border, but we are very proud of them.”

It is possible that the Gaffney family won't have too long to wait for their next Group 1 winner. Castle Star has various targets pencilled in, including the G1 Darley Prix Morny, and his dam Awohaam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) is back in foal to his sire Starspangledbanner with a U S Navy Flag foal this year.

“The day she foaled the filly, Fozzy rang me and asked what she was going back to and he said for his money she should be going back to Starspangledbanner,” Gaffney notes. “I thought to myself obviously something good happened on the gallops this morning. Usually when a trainer rings they are dream-ending conversations rather than dream-beginning conversations.”

By May 3, Castle Star was a listed winner, and he has continued to improve on that in his next two starts.

“Hopefully he's going to the Phoenix Stakes next and Fozzy is very bullish about him. We will ride on his coat-tails as he keeps going forward,” says Gaffney.

In a terrific season, the Gaffneys have plenty of coat-tails to grab as the dream remains very much alive. 

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Big Day For No Nay Never As Alcohol Free Wins The Sussex

In the battle between the 3-year-old colts and fillies, it was Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) who prevailed over Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) with an impressive success in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood. Trapped wide throughout the early stages from her wide draw and forced to take back and race towards the rear, the 7-2 second favourite who had annexed the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18 was delivered by Oisin Murphy to cut down Jim Bolger's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. hero approaching the furlong pole. Brushing that 11-8 favourite aside, she stayed on strongly to score by 1 3/4 lengths, with the same margin back to Alcohol Free's G1 Falmouth S. conqueress Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in third as the Classic generation dominated. “Alcohol Free is so, so talented and what a thrill I got from that,” Murphy said. “The race really ran from when we turned into the straight and then it was a grind to the line.”

Showing talent from the outset, Alcohol Free raced solely over six furlongs with success in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket and a second in Salisbury's G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. in September to show from a light campaign. Back with a win in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury Apr. 18, she was an uncertain stayer heading to the May 2 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and that was still a question mark after she finished fifth there but in the Coronation she emphatically proved her staying power. Forced to make the running when third in the Falmouth at Newmarket July 9, she may have been compromised as much by quicker ground as the tactics and so when the rain came the Kingsclere confidence rose.

Forced out on the track soon after the start as Tilsit (First Defence) made his move forward, Alcohol Free was going to have to do it the hard way as had so often been the case throughout her career. Reined back to race alongside Snow Lantern as the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) put the pace to the race kept company by Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), she had to surrender first run to Poetic Flare who had been ideally placed tracking that duo. No sooner had Keving Manning forged a narrow lead on the favourite from Century Dream heading to the furlong pole, Alcohol Free was upon him and the result was quickly settled as she swamped him to become the first of her sex to win this since Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) in 2004.

“I knew James Doyle would go forward on Century Dream, but on his own terms and in his own rhythm,” Murphy reflected afterwards. “I knew Tilsit under Kieran Shoemark and Alcohol Free would fight for the same position. Unfortunately, she is 440kgs and Tilsit is probably 500kgs plus. I was never going to win that battle and was happy to come back and trust that Kieran would move at the right time and that I would be able to get out and slip into the race. I can't thank everyone at Park House enough. Alcohol Free really can be a handful in the mornings. Cassia has to deal with her every day and deserves a medal because she can be really tough work.”

Trainer Andrew Balding added, “Oisin was at pains to try and tuck in and get some cover, because she's so much better when you are able to do that and she has got something to aim at. Poetic Flare is a very good horse, but she really did it well in the end. I am sure there were hard-luck stories, but I am sure she was the best horse on the day. It was lovely to see her do that because we have always believed in her. It is no easy task taking on the colts and older horses and to do it in that style was just fantastic.”

“Watching her work is demoralising for the other horses; we have to keep swapping the lead horse because she is just so, so good,” her handler continued. “You see her afterwards and she is hardly blowing–it is effortless really. She has been the victim of bad draws whenever she has run, to be honest. She probably would have won the Dick Poole, and, with a good draw, I think in the Guineas she would have gone close had she been drawn in the middle or to the far side. It was Jeff Smith's idea in the first place, and I don't think it's a bad idea, to put her in the [Aug. 18 G1 Juddmonte] International at York and we decided to keep her in at yesterday's forfeit stage. It might be asking a bit much, going a mile and a quarter, but she's a filly that has won three Group 1 races, so we have very little to lose. If it doesn't work, we'll regroup and go back to the mile race on Champions Day.”

Una Manning said of the runner-up, “Kevin [Manning] said for Poetic Flare that it was the same as France again. The ground just blunted his speed and I would say the wind drying it out has just made the ground tacky. We were always going to turn up here, it was just unfortunate that the rain came. We were game to go and had to give it our best go. Poetic Flare has lost nothing in defeat. He loves his racing, loves his work. He's an easy horse to deal with and to travel. Bringing him over here wasn't going to be any sort of disadvantage to him, even if the ground didn't turn out like he wanted.”

Kevin Manning added “It was the same as in Paris. I was riding Poetic Flare a little bit behind the bridle from a long way down, whereas on good ground he is travelling into his races. I think the ground has just blunted him for speed. It is tacky, holding ground and there is no bounce in it. Poetic Flare has dug very deep and I thought for a few strides when Alcohol Free came by that he would shunt her back. He's won a 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace on good to quick ground. The runs that he hasn't lived up to have both come on soft ground.”

Snow Lantern stayed on from behind once again and jockey Jamie Spencer suggested that a step up in trip could suit. “The pace was only just okay,” he said. “When they quickened at the three, I was caught a little flat-footed, but I hit the line very strong. Further won't be a problem.”

Alcohol Free, who was completing an afternoon group double for her sire after Armor (GB) had taken the Molecomb, is a daughter of Plying (Hard Spun) who also produced the Listed Prix le Fabuleux scorer Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The second dam is the Listed National S.-placed Nasaieb (Ire) (Fairy King), who is also responsible for the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. third Kissing Lights (Ire) Machiavellian) and is a half-sister to the G3 Solario S. scorer Raise a Grand (Ire) (Grand Lodge). From the family of the champion juvenile Numbered Account (Buckpasser), Plying's unraced 2-year-old filly Hooked On You (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was a 130,000gns purchase by Creighton Schwartz Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale and is owned by John and Jess Dance in training with Karl Burke. Her yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire) was bought by Ballyhane for €80,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale.

Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR SUSSEX S.-G1, £1,000,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:42.83, sf.
1–ALCOHOL FREE (IRE), 123, f, 3, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Plying, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Nasaieb (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Atyaaf, by Irish River (Fr)
(€40,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV). O-J C Smith; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £567,100. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-1, $1,378,006. *1/2 to Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Poetic Flare (Ire), 126, c, 3, Dawn Approach (Ire)–Maria Lee (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). O-Mrs J. S. Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). £215,000.
3–Snow Lantern (GB), 123, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Sky Lantern (Ire), by Red Clubs (Ire). O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £107,600.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 1.38, 6.00.
Also Ran: Duhail (Ire), Order of Australia (Ire), Space Traveller (GB), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Century Dream (Ire), Tilsit. Scratched: Battleground, Chindit (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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No Nay Never’s Alcohol Free Takes The Coronation

Just minutes after losing the argument for keeping the G1 Commonwealth Cup on Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Oisin Murphy was playing Mr bouncebackability as he steered Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) to clear-cut glory in the G1 Coronation S. It will certainly be a Royal Ascot Friday the reigning champion jockey, who has generally been put through the emotional wringer this month, will never forget with such extreme highs and lows all within the space of less than an hour. To add another aside to this tumultuous spell, Alcohol Free even opted to drop him as he was making his way back to the hallowed place having seen off TDN Rising Star Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Jeff Smith's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine had stamina doubts entering this test, with her fifth in Newmarket's Guineas largely inconclusive, but trainer Andrew Balding who is having a Royal Ascot to savour was adamant she possessed the right material. Buried in mid-pack early, the 11-2 shot was the first to subdue the aggressively-ridden G2 German 1000 Guineas winner Novemba (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}) passing the furlong pole before answering the doubters with a continued surge to put 1 1/2 lengths between her and Snow Lantern. Mother Earth was a model of consistency as usual, a neck further behind, denying the game Novemba third place by half a length. “I didn't get a chance to stress ahead of Alcohol Free,” Murphy said. “I said it to my valet that 'there's no place for tears in here–there are far worse things going on in the world' and we're in the entertainment industry. Alcohol Free is a real pain, but so talented and they got her here in super form.”

In a quirk of fate, Alcohol Free received the widest stall on her first two starts at two and while it was not a major problem on her winning debut at Newbury in August it probably cost her when 3/4-of-a-length second to the battle-hardened Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in Salisbury's G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. in early September. Late that month, the bay got it together to deny Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket showing the kind of pace that suggested a mile would be a stretch. Coming back in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury Apr. 18, she was stuck out on the wing again but had enough to deny Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) by a short head. While that performance entitled her to a crack at the May 2 Newmarket Classic, it didn't scream Guineas winner and in the event itself she was again wide without cover and not seen to best effect. Although she was only two lengths off Mother Earth there, connections were convinced that she had not given her true running and it was full steam ahead to this test.

Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was a significant non-runner due to the drastic change in going brought about by the almost apocalyptic weather, and her absence was to leave some important questions unanswered with Snow Lantern having trailed her at York last time. Alcohol Free was due to be drawn wide before the stalls were moved to the far rail and that slice of fortune meant that she received early cover as David Egan took the bull by the horns on the German raider Novemba. Dragging his rivals into action in early straight as he kicked again on the runaway German Guineas winner, Egan drew the sting from TDN Rising Star Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) but Murphy was still happy in behind and even had time to remove his goggles as he angled his mount for her challenge. As the winner settled the outcome passing the furlong pole, Snow Lantern who had run freely throughout the early stages as she had at York was forced to change course slightly before storming home.

“What worried me was the clerk of the course decided to put the stalls on the far rail. That was fine, but then everyone wants to get to that rail and I was worried it was going to get congested,” Murphy added. “Alcohol Free relaxed, I stayed on the bit for as long as I could and given her pedigree, she was always going to handle the ground.” Balding admitted to a feeling of deflation after the Guineas and said, “Alcohol Free is very classy. We had heavy hearts after Newmarket, because it isn't often you go into a Classic expecting to win it. For whatever reason, it didn't pan out that day and she was below-par, but she was back to her best today and she looked pretty good. We were a bit concerned when all the rain came, because her stamina wasn't guaranteed, but full credit to Oisin–it's the measure of the man to have the disappointment he had five minutes before they go in the stalls. To give her such a good ride takes some doing.”

“We have worked her at home plenty of times on soft ground, it doesn't inconvenience her and she travels very strongly–it was just whether she would see out the final furlong and I was very grateful that she really powered home,” the Kingsclere handler said. “Today was the first time ever she has got some cover and it's been through ill-luck rather than design that she hasn't before. The slightly awkward draw turned into a really good draw when they started to race down under the trees and she got some cover and switched off beautifully. She did win a group 1 last year, so there's never been any doubt about her ability but she needed a bit of luck and everything to drop right. She's in the [G1] July Cup [at Newmarket July 10] and the [G1] Sussex Stakes [at Goodwood July 28]–whether she does both or one I don't know, but I think we'll stick to Britain this year.”

Richard Hannon said of Snow Lantern, “Her day will come and she's run a super race. We had a point to prove after York. She is an aeroplane. In terms of what I came here wanting, she's done–she was so much less keen.”

Alcohol Free is out of Plying (Hard Spun), a dual winner in the Sheikh Mohammed silks for the Henri-Alex Pantall stable who was initially a $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August Yearling purchase before selling out of a Darley draft for €12,000 to BBA Ireland at the 2013 Arqana December Sale. Five years later, she was bought by Jossestown Farm for €21,000 at the Goffs November auction and the rest is history. Also responsible for the Listed Prix le Fabuleux winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), she is out of the Listed National S.-placed Nasaieb (Ire) (Fairy King) who produced the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. third Kissing Lights (Ire) Machiavellian). Nasaieb is a half-sister to the G3 Solario S. scorer Raise a Grand (Ire) (Grand Lodge) from the family of the champion Numbered Account (Buckpasser). Plying's unraced 2-year-old filly Hooked On You (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was a 130,000gns purchase by Creighton Schwartz Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale and is in training with Karl Burke. Her yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire) was bought by Ballyhane for €80,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale.

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
CORONATION S.-G1, £426,875, Ascot, 6-18, 3yo, f, 7f 213yT, 1:43.13, hy.
1–ALCOHOL FREE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Plying, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Nasaieb (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Atyaaf, by Irish River (Fr)
(€40,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV). O-J C Smith; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £242,081. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, $558,968. *1/2 to Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Snow Lantern (GB), 126, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Sky Lantern (Ire), Red Clubs (Ire). O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £91,778.
3–Mother Earth (Ire), 126, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £45,932.
Margins: 1HF, NK, HF. Odds: 5.50, 14.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Novemba (Ger), Pretty Gorgeous (Fr), Fev Rover (Ire), Flirting Bridge (Ire), Empress Josephine (Ire), Potapova (GB), Shale (Ire), Lullaby Moon (GB). Scratched: Oodnadatta (Ire), Primo Bacio (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Cheveley Park Glory For No Nay Never’s Alcohol Free

Like last year’s G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. winner Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) beaten in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies’ S. at Salisbury Sept. 3, Jeff Smith’s Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) made a similar step forward to prove fastest where it mattered in Saturday’s fillies’ feature at Newmarket. Quickly able to head the fast-breaking G2 Lowther S. winner Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), the heavily-supported 7-2 second favourite was there to be shot at on the front end throughout but was able to ward off threats on all sides as Oisin Murphy asked for maximum effort. At the line, the bargain €40,000 Goffs November Foal Sale purchase had half a length to spare over the 5-2 market-leader Miss Amulet, with Umm Kulthum (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) just a further head away having been well beaten by the runner-up in the Lowther. “Andrew [Balding] has done a top job with her, because he’s had to carefully manage her training regime as she’s very generous at home,” Murphy explained. “We’ve a class of horse in the yard at the moment that we’ve never had before. She certainly fits into the 1000 Guineas category for next year, because she hits the line well and also relaxes. She’s a super filly.”

Off the mark over this trip on debut at Newbury Aug. 15, Alcohol Free was only 3/4 of a length behind the vastly-more experienced Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) from a wide draw when second in the Dick Poole also at this distance. Evidently improved in the interim with the money down on the bay who opened up in the betting at 6-1, she showed why by rapidly mastering her pace rival Miss Amulet who had exited the stalls with remarkable alacrity. Soon after the start, Alcohol Free was the one to aim at and despite her relative inexperience was able to remain there ahead of a strong field. Along with the eventual second and third, she also had in her wake her ultra-game Salisbury conqueror, the previously unbeaten G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. winner Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and the high-class Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).

Balding has had a year to remember and in all reality could have an even better 2021. “She didn’t have a great draw at Salisbury, she showed a bit of inexperience and we knew she would come on for that,” he said. “At the end of the day, Happy Romance was likely to be one of the favourites and we only had a couple of lengths to find on her. We had the option to run in the Rockfel, but Jeff was keen on going for the group one and he was dead right. She has been on a fast-track really, as she only started faster work about three weeks before she ran and we went to the races not knowing quite what to expect as she was the first two-year-old filly we had run. She won very easily there and the next logical step was to go for the Dick Poole and she showed enough there to warrant coming here.”

As far as the 1000 Guineas is concerned, the Kingsclere handler is keeping an open mind. “She should stay, I would have thought,” he opined. “She relaxes well and acts better with a bit of cover. Oisin was intent that he couldn’t see any pace in the race and he didn’t want to be too far back. I’m well past giving him instructions and he did a fantastic job. For the yard, this is fantastic as Jeff has been with us a long time, both with dad and as a big supporter of ours, so it is great to get him a group one winner again. She won’t run again this year. We will see how she does in the spring and we will make a decision nearer the time whether she runs in a Guineas trial. She is obviously good enough to go to the Guineas, so we don’t need to go to a trial to find out–it’s just whether she would benefit for a run in the spring.”

Alcohol Free’s dam Plying (Hard Spun) was a dual winner at slightly further than this trip in the Sheikh Mohammed silks for the Henri-Alex Pantall stable. Initially a $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August Yearling purchase, she was let go by Darley for just €12,000 to BBA Ireland at the 2013 Arqana December Sale and five years later was the property of Jossestown Farm for €21,000 at the Goffs November auction. Alcohol Free is her second black-type performer alongside the Listed Prix le Fabuleux winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), while the second dam is the Listed National S.-placed Nasaieb (Ire) (Fairy King) who produced the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. third Kissing Lights (Ire) Machiavellian). Nasaieb is a half-sister to the G3 Solario S. scorer Raise a Grand (Ire) (Grand Lodge) from the family of the champion Numbered Account (Buckpasser). Plying’s yearling daughter of Starspangledbanner (Aus) was bought by Pegasus Bloodstock for €40,000 at this year’s Goffs February Mixed Sale and is due to sell during Thursday’s session of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale @ Doncaster. She also has a colt foal by Dandy Man (Ire).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE CHEVELEY PARK S.-G1, £220,000, Newmarket, 9-26, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10, gd.
1–ALCOHOL FREE (IRE), 126, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Plying, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Nasaieb (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Atyaaf, by Irish River (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€40,000 Wlg ’18 GOFNOV). O-J C Smith; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £124,762. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $172,609. *1/2 to Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Miss Amulet (Ire), 126, f, 2, Sir Prancealot (Ire)–Shena’s Dream (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (€1,000 Wlg ’18 GOFNOV; £7,500 Ylg ’19 TASAYG). O-Mrs Doreen Tabor; B-Ringfort Stud (IRE); T-Ken Condon. £47,300.
3–Umm Kulthum (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Queen’s Code (Ire), by Shamardal. (£75,000 2yo ’20 GOFARQ). O-Saeed bin Mohammed Al Qassimi; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £23,672.
Margins: HF, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 2.50, 9.00.
Also Ran: Happy Romance (Ire), Dandalla (Ire), Illykato (GB), Zoetic (GB), Sacred (GB). Scratched: Aloha Star (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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