Dark Angel’s The Antarctic Blows Hot At Naas

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park.

The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In command throughout, he surged clear approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to hold the fast-finishing Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) by a head.

“He made good progress from Navan, he just needed that last run and I'm delighted with him,” commented Aidan O'Brien. “Navan was tough, soft ground and there wouldn't have been much of an edge put on him, but this win will leave a lovely edge on him. Ryan [Moore] was delighted with him and said he got a little bit lonely and idle in the last half-furlong. He'd progressed plenty without us really having to chase him and we couldn't be happier with him. We thought this race would bring him the rest of the way and if everything stays well we should be able to let him coast into [Royal] Ascot now. He would have the option of going to the [G3] Jersey over seven [furlongs] if Little Big Bear went to the [G1] Commonwealth Cup, but it will depend on where Little Big Bear goes. This horse is going to come forward again as he's still a little bit tubby, but he's coming. It always looked like he'd get seven and Ryan said today he was surprised that he quickened as much as he did.”

Pedigree Notes

The Antarctic, the fifth of seven foals, is one of two scorers out of Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), herself kin to four black-type performers headed by G2 Champagne S. victor and G1 July Cup third Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk). His dam's first foal is multiple Group 1-winning speedster Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and she has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Go Big Or Go Home (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Blue Point (Ire) to come. Descendants of the The Antarctic's second dam Portelet (GB) (Night Shift) also include multiple Group-winning dual Group 1-placed sire Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

Sunday, Naas, Ireland
GOFFS LACKEN S.-G3, €55,000, Naas, 5-21, 3yo, 5f 205yT, 1:09.41, gd.
1–THE ANTARCTIC (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg & Brant; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Fr, G1SP-Eng, 10-4-2-3, $256,566. *Full to Battaash (Ire), MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Fr, $2,286,611. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ocean Quest (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sioux Nation–Gold Zain (GB), by Aqlaam (GB). O-J Kirkland & Mrs J M Ryan; B-Dr T K Chah (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,000.
3–Ocean Jewel (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sioux Nation–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€230,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Willie McCreery. €5,500.
Margins: HD, HF, HF. Odds: 1.63, 2.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Thunderbear (Ire), Shartash (Ire), Torivega (Ire), Mauiewowie (GB), Maria Branwell (Ire), Apache Outlaw (Ire), Badb (Ire), Clever And Cool (Ire), Apricot Twist (Ire), Nightcliff (Ire), Running Cool (GB), Song For Whoever (Ire).

 

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Caravaggio’s Porta Fortuna On Top At Naas

Donnacha O'Brien trainee Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio–Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) posted a debut win over five furlongs at the Curragh last month and punched a ticket to Royal Ascot with a determined success in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. Naas.

She was positioned within range of the leaders in a close eighth through the early stages and tanked forward once past halfway. Shaken up at the quarter-mile marker, the 8-1 chance quickened smartly to seize control approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the latter stages to hold the late charge of Navassa Island (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) by a neck. The duo finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of the pack, headed by Launch (Omaha Beach) in third.

“We thought she was a nice filly, but obviously you never expect to win a Group race with a filly that's had just one run,” O'Brien said. “It's nice to see her handle the step up in class well. She has a really good pedigree, back along there are a lot of good horses in it. She was bought by some American partners, it's great for them and exciting. We'll speak to them now, but there is probably a good chance she'll go to [Royal] Ascot now. If she goes it will probably be for the [G3] Albany as she looked to get a stiff six furlongs here well. She handles all kinds of ground, so I wouldn't be worried either way.”

Pedigree Notes

Porta Fortuna is the first of three reported foals produced by multiple winner Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), herself a full-sister to GSW G1 Australian Cup second Numerian (Ire) and G3 Prix Francois Boutin third Montesilvano (Ire). The January-foaled bay, who hails from the family of G1 St Leger-winning sire Milan (GB) (Sadler's Wells), is half to a yearling filly by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and a weanling filly by Sottsass (Fr).

Sunday, Naas, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD IRISH EBF FILLIES SPRINT S.-G3, €70,000, Naas, 5-21, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT, 1:09.99, gd.
1–PORTA FORTUNA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Too Precious (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
2nd Dam: Delicate Charm (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Kantikoy (GB), by Alzao
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 LLC, Steven I Weston & Reeves Thoroughbred; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien; J-Gavin Ryan. €42,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $56,474. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Navassa Island (Ire), 128, f, 2, Territories (Ire)–Roger Sez (Ire), by Red Clubs (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (92,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; 240,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O/T-Michael O'Callaghan; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE). €14,000.
3–Launch, 128, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Spark, by Speightstown. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Giselle De Aguiar; B-Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Adrian Murray. €7,000.
Margins: NK, 4HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 8.00, 14.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Ribchestina (Ire), Blame Thechampagne (Ire), Ziggy's Dream (Ire), Smart Impression (Ire), What A Squeeze (Ire), Bated Moon (Ire), Making Time (Ire), Jakku (Ire), West Of Wichita (Ire), Neo Smart (Ire).

 

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Free Wind Survives Middleton Enquiry

George Strawbridge's 5-year-old mare Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Alive Alive Oh {GB}, by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), seen out just once since 2021, was fit and raring to go for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York and collected a fourth straight pattern-race rosette with a narrow victory in the extended 10-furlong contest.

The April-foaled bay, whose resume also features wins in the G3 Prix Minerve, G2 Park Hill S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks, was settled off a sedate pace in sixth until turning for home. Making eyecatching progress on the bridle once into the straight, the 6-5 favourite assumed control passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly, despite edging right in the closing stages, to withstand the persistent threat of last term's Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial victrix Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by a neck. The Knavesmire's stewards were called into action in the immediate aftermath, but allowed the finishing order to remain unchanged.

“She [nearly] got put through the rails at Haydock [in the Lancashire Oaks last year] and won despite that near fatal accident,” reflected John Gosden after notching a fourth win in the contest. “She has come back from a nasty injury and 10 months off and it was a long way for her to come back, physically and mentally. She's done that and showed a great attitude, so we couldn't be more pleased with her. She was running way below her [optimum] trip today. She wasn't originally in the race, but [owner] Mr [George] Strawbridge is over from America to see Epictetus run in the Dante and we thought we'd supplement Free Wind and run her, too. She's done great as this trip is a bit sharp for her. She's won a Park Hill over a mile-and-six furlongs, which is a slightly different ball game, and we're very clear that we're going a mile-and-a-half next time. She's in the [G2] Hardwicke [at Royal Ascot] and that would be a strong possibility at this stage.”

Rogue Millennium holds a special place in Tom Clover's heart and the Newmarket-based conditioner was delighted by the performance of his stable star. “She ran a lovely race and Jack [Mitchell] gave her a lovely ride,” he said. “He followed Frankie the whole way and she takes a step forward with each run. She ran well in France and ran well in the Magnolia at Kempton, when she didn't get a clear run. She didn't have a clear run in France either. She's a really lovely filly, she's improved from three to four and was well sourced by the [Rogues Gallery] team. It's great to have a high-class filly of this nature and it would be lovely to win a Group race with her this year. The obvious targets would either be the [G3] Hoppings [S. at Newcastle] or the [G1] Pretty Polly in Ireland, so we'll see.”

Pedigree Notes
Free Wind, one of her late sire's 242 pattern-race winners, is the second of four foals and one of two scorers for multiple stakes-winning G3 Dance Design S. placegetter Alive Alive Oh (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), herself half to G3 Fukushima Kinen and G3 Tanabata Sho victor Crescendo Love (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}). Alive Alive Oh is also kin to the dam of the dual stakes-placed Soldier's Minute (GB) (Raven's Pass). The April-foaled bay's second dam Higher Love (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who was runner-up in the Listed Cheshire Oaks, is out of Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Dollar Bird (Ire) (Kris {GB}), herself a half-sister to G2 King Edward VII S.-winning sire Amfortas (Ire) (Caerleon) and to the dam of G1 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) and G1SP sires Chevalier (Ire) (Danehill) and Alexander of Hales (Danehill). Alive Alive Oh has a 2-year-old full-brother to Free Wind yet to come.

Thursday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI MIDDLETON FILLIES' S.-G2, £154,800, York, 5-18, 4yo/up, f, 10f 56yT, 2:10.06, g/f.
1–FREE WIND (IRE), 128, m, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Alive Alive Oh (GB) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire)
2nd Dam: Higher Love (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Dollar Bird (Ire), by Kris (GB)
(325,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-George Strawbridge; B-Mrs Sue Ann Foley (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £87,787. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 8-6-1-0, $348,472. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rogue Millennium (Ire), 128, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Hawaafez (GB), by Nayef. (35,000gns 2yo '21 TATMA). O-The Rogues Gallery; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover. £33,282.
3–Poptronic (GB), 128, f, 4, Nathaniel (Ire)–Alpine Dream (Ire), by Dream Ahead. O/B-David & Yvonne Blunt (GB); T-Karl Burke. £16,656.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.20, 20.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: State Occasion (GB), Stay Alert (GB), Sea Silk Road (Ire), Aristia (Ire). Scratched: Toskana Belle (Fr).

 

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Wootton Bassett’s Balsam Annexes Vichy Feature In Style

Al Shaqab Racing's juvenile filly Balsam (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Bea Remembered {GB}, by Doyen {Ire}) was a two-race maiden heading into Wednesday's Listed Prix des Reves d'Or at Vichy and went home with a stakes rosette and a breakthrough success in the bag after denting a pair of unbeaten records.

Balsam, let go as the 13-2 fourth choice of seven, was sharply into stride from the outside gate and occupied a prominent slot in second through halfway. Looming large on the bridle out wide to threaten the pacesetting 'TDN Rising Star' Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing the quarter-mile pole, she inched ahead of that rival entering the final furlong and onward to an ultimately comfortable 3/4-of-a-length triumph. Amo Racing's homebred Komat (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), hitherto undefeated, ran on well in the closing stages to finish a half-length adrift in third.

Balsam is the latest of eight foals and becomes the sixth winner for G3 Meld S. third Bea Remembered (GB) (Doyen {Ire}). The April-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to MGSW globetrotter Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic), who placed five times at elite level, and G2 Queen Mary and G2 Prix Robert Papin runner-up Al Johrah (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). Bea Remembered is the leading performer thrown by multiple scorer Leinster Mills (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}), herself kin to Listed Mooresbridge S. victrix Cheviot Amble (Ire) (Pennine Walk {Ire}) and Listed Debutante S. winner Alalja (Ire) (Entitled {Ire}). Cheviot Amble is the dam of Listed Hoppings S. victrix Amalia (Ire) (Danehill) while Alalja produced Listed Premio Nastro d'Oro di Sicilia victor Absolute Taft (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}). The family also features G1 Deutsches Derby second Taishan (Ger) (Armistice Day {GB}).

Wednesday, Vichy, France
HARAS DE BEAUMONT – PRIX DES REVES D'OR – JACQUES BOUCHARA-Listed, €60,000, Vichy, 5-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:03.30, sf.
1–BALSAM (FR), 122, f, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Bea Remembered (GB) (GSP-Ire, SP-Eng & Swe), by Doyen (Ire)
2nd Dam: Leinster Mills (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire)
3rd Dam: Miss Turnberry (Ire), by Mummy's Pet (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Al Shaqab Racing (FR); T-Henri-Francois Devin; J-Clement Lecoeuvre. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, €41,400. *1/2 to Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic), MGSW & G1SP-Ger, GSW & MG1SP-Fr, GSW-Eng & Ity, GISP-Can, $986,165; and Al Johrah (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), GSP-Eng & Fr, $129,933.
2–Les Pavots (Ire), 122, f, 2, No Nay Never–Sparrow (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Craig Bernick & Haras d'Etreham; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €12,000.
3–Komat (GB), 122, f, 2, Cable Bay (Ire)–Tamok (Ire), by Australia (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Amo Racing Ltd (GB); T-Dominic Ffrench Davis. €9,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 2. Odds: 6.50, 0.90, 3.00.
Also Ran: Eclaire La Vie (Fr), Chataigne (Fr), Arizona (Fr), Daiquiberry (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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