“I thought he probably ran right up to form, as John [Gosden] said afterwards carrying the three pound penalty [for his Gold Cup win] is tough over that trip,” said Brown. “We were delighted with the run because it sort of showed that Ascot wasn't a fluke. We hoped it wasn't and Coltrane is a very good horse on his day–they're the best stayers around really.”

“Our horse was strong at the line, we know he gets two and a half miles obviously, and I'd say that the Cadran will be his next target.”

According to Brown, soft ground at ParisLongchamp remains a slight concern.

“I would be a bit worried about a bit of soft ground. You never know really until you try it, I think he'll be OK but you never know,” he said. “After the Cadran that will be it for him this year as everything is geared around trying to win a second Gold Cup.”

Fellow Wathnan runner Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), who was purchased by the operation following a second-place effort in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. on Aug. 3, held the same spot once again last time in the Aug. 23 G3 Acomb S. at York.

“I was actually delighted. He obviously bumped into one at Goodwood and I'd say there's a fair chance he's just bumped into another good one at York,” said Brown of the Adrian Paul Keatley trainee.

“He ran well, possibly he'd prefer soft ground and also he was a breeze-up horse who has had some quick runs. We're going to give him a bit of a rest and give him just one more run this year, I would say. He's shown he's a group level colt and I think he'll only be better next year as well as he's still relatively unfurnished.”

Brown also indicated that stable runner multiple group winner Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is likely for a break as well following a fourth behind winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the Aug. 26 G2 City of York S.

Earlier this spring, he was runner-up in the G1 French 2000 Guineas in May, subsequently fourth in the June 10 G1 St James's Palace S. before finishing second to Kinross in Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. Aug. 1.

“It's the quickest we've run him back [between the Lennox and the City of York] and I wonder if he was a touch flat,” Brown surmised. “Kinross is a brilliant horse, and we were a bit farther behind him than we were at Goodwood, which I suppose makes you think he was just a touch flat.”

He concluded, “We haven't made any plans for him. Myself, Brian [Meehan] and Olly Tait will sit down and do that in a couple of weeks, but I'd imagine we'll give him a six-week break now and give him one more run somewhere.”

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That makes the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup even more of a stamina test than usual, which should be no hindrance to Wathnan Racing's Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami given how strongly he saw out that race over a further half a mile. Pointed here instead of the same connections' 3-year-old option Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), the Gosdens' unbeaten representative has experience of this tricky circuit having won a handicap here in May.

“John [Gosden] was keen to train both him and Gregory for the race and soft ground or probable soft ground swayed the decision towards running Courage Mon Ami, while Gregory will now take a different route, with his main aim being the St Leger,” the owners' racing adviser Richard Brown said. “He's back in trip, but he won there impressively before the Gold Cup and we know he handles the track. I don't think it will be a problem coming back to two miles, it was always the question before Ascot if he would he stay two and a half.”

Fourth here last year, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is back an improved horse and has just 3/4 of a length to turn around with Courage Mon Ami from the Gold Cup. Oisin Murphy believes the high-class veteran has conditions in his favour to do so. “All the signs at home are positive and I think this two miles will suit him better than the two and a half at Ascot,” he said. “I don't think the quick ground was a problem in the Gold Cup as he obviously let himself down on it, but we know from his past form that he enjoys some dig in the ground, so that's a plus for him.”

Also helped by the rain is Ballydoyle's Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who bounced out of the Gold Cup in which she was fourth to win last Sunday's G2 Curragh Cup. “She loved the ease in the ground at the Curragh,” Aidan O'Brien said. “She comes out of races on fast ground perfectly, which suggests it does not bother her, but she appears much better with an ease in the ground.” In a deep renewal, the first four home from the G2 Yorkshire Cup re-oppose with the winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) a fresh horse and the runner-up Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) back on a more suitable surface after flopping in the Gold Cup.

Marco Botti is hoping that Giavellotto can repay the resisted temptation to run at the Royal meeting. “He won well at York and it has always been the plan to skip the Gold Cup at Ascot and go to Goodwood,” he said. “He is well and his prep has gone to plan, we think he is fit and he looks in good order. We know he stays and we're looking forward to it. Two miles is not an issue, but we felt the Ascot Gold Cup may have stretched him a little bit. He settles well and he looks a stronger horse than last year. I just worry about the ground, I hope it will be nice ground for everyone and not extremes. Good-to-soft would be what he wants.”

All Boxes Ticked For Kinross…
Also on Tuesday is the G2 World Pool Lennox S., the next in the sequence of seven-furlong features which have been enhanced in recent years and which now provide a welcome narrative throughout the season. One of the finest in this category is Marc Chan's TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has the rain and return to the trip over which he is most comfortable to suit. He also has Frankie Dettori back on board, with the partnership temporarily ruptured by a spurious riding ban in the G1 July Cup in which the high-class gelding again showed his versatility to be third. Having beaten Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2021, he was an unlucky second 12 months ago so this is clearly his bag. “There is no doubt this is his best distance,” Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said of the Ralph Beckett yard's stalwart, who is set to be an integral part of Dettori's farewell tour. “He likes the course and he's justifiably the favourite, even though that doesn't mean he will win the race.”

Of this year's 3-year-olds, Wathnan Racing's G3 Greenham S. winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks tailor-made for this after finishing fourth on ground that was too fast in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot. “He's back to seven and hopefully that will see him in his best light,” Richard Brown said. “He got lit up and things didn't really go to plan at Ascot. I'm not trying to use an excuse and saying he would have won there, but back in trip and back in grade here, he should be thereabouts.”

Revived by a gelding operation last year, Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) showed what he is capable of when making all in Newmarket's G3 Criterion S. and the stud's Chris Richardson is hoping he can back that up. “This race is the natural progression really and he came out of the Newmarket race well. He has not been straightforward, but gelding seems to have worked and we are now seeing what we were seeing on the gallops but not on the racecourse. It was just one of those rather frustrating things, but it was lovely to see him bounce back and follow up the previous win with such an emphatic success.”

Is Iberian Of The Right Vintage?
In the G2 Nicholson Gin Vintage S., Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Newbury novice scorer Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of the less-exposed types who was spared the beating by City Of Troy (Justify) that the Hannon stable's solid yardstick Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) had to endure in the G2 Superlative S. Richard Ryan, racing manager for Teme Valley, said of the former, “We're hopeful we have a nice horse and this race will answer a lot of questions. He is an impressive horse at home and Charlie [Hills] is having a great season with his two-year-olds.”
“He looks to have a number of promising horses, so we are in the slightly excited camp until proven otherwise,” Ryan added. “Although it is probably going to be wet at Goodwood, it's unwatered and well maintained for this meeting and probably with it being the first day, it won't have the same issues the July Course had at the time with conditions in the pouring rain.”

One of the eyecatchers of the Royal Ascot 2-year-old events was Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Golden Mind (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), a half-brother to the fellow Richard Fahey-trained star Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) who was finishing to real effect when third in the Listed Chesham S. over this seven-furlong trip. He gets the Dettori treatment and Fahey has a special wish. “He's a horse that is improving the whole time, he's a bit of a laid-back character and with racing he's going to get better,” his trainer said. “He's in good order and I would love Frankie to ride me a winner before he retires, he's a legend.”

Paddington Set For Select Sussex…
Only five will take on this season's sensation Paddington in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S., the feature race of the meeting, with the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Eclipse S. hero scaring off much opposition. One who hasn't been spared is Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while soft ground means that Shadwell at least have an outside chance of another surprise with the William Haggas-trained Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

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The 3-5 favourite American Flag had no excuses in fifth in a renewal cut to nine after KHK Racing's TDN Rising Star Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) was a withdrawal at the start. “We were hoping to finish in the first five, so to win is unbelievable,” Schutz said. “I was also hoping for more rain. He had worked well in the company of my other horses, but I don't necessarily have much to go on. I have been in France for seven years now and I hope that this victory will mark a new turning point in my career. I need to speak to the jockey and the owner, but he's in the [G1 Prix du] Jockey Club and that looks like the most logical target.”

Confined to maiden and conditions events prior to the Fontainebleau, Marhaba Ya Sanafi made his debut over nine furlongs here in October and followed a fourth there with a win at a mile on Chantilly's Polytrack the following month. Back with another win over that same course, distance and surface when nosing out the Fabrice Chappet-trained Bless (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) in March, the bay didn't appear to have any excuses as American Flag rushed by late in his first black-type test and was understandably overlooked. Finding improvement as the Fontainebleau winner possibly under-performed, his inherent stamina was telling late on as Isaac Shelby stepped beyond seven furlongs for the first time.

Brian Meehan said of the runner-up, “We were a bit frustrated by the lack of pace, especially in the first part of the race. He hasn't shown the full extent of his talent yet. The best is yet to come, especially in races where there will be more pace. We are thinking of Royal Ascot, and in particular the St James's Palace Stakes.” Alessandro Botti is also bound for the Royal meeting with Breizh Sky. “My horse ran on well, but I think the draw maybe cost us a better placing,” he said. “I don't think he will stay further and the [G3] Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot will be next.”

A 33/1 shock in the French 2000 Guineas!

Marhaba Ya Sanafi edges out Isaac Shelby to take the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at @paris_longchamp for @mickaelbarzalon and Andreas Schutz… pic.twitter.com/Ui1AmQl9LP

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 14, 2023

Pedigree Notes
Marhaba Ya Sanafi becomes the second top-level and 10th group winner for his sire, whose progeny show a marked preference for this type of testing ground. The unraced dam, who is also responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Acclamation (GB), was a 58,000gns purchase by Rabbah Bloodstock at the 2016 Tatts December Sale but has already been re-sold as Duncan McGregor presciently snapped up a bargain at €16,000 at the most recent edition of Goffs November. Danega hails from a distinguished Jim Bolger family which features the aforementioned G1 Irish Derby hero Soldier Of Fortune and the G1 Gran Criterium winner and Irish Derby runner-up and successful jumps sire Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

The second dam is the G3 Noblesse S. winner and G2 Lancashire Oaks runner-up Danelissima (Ire) (Danehill), who produced the G3 Ballysax S. runner-up Fergus McIver (Ire) by Sadler's Wells and is a full-sister to the G3 Railway S.-placed Daneleta (Ire). She is in turn responsible for Bolger's G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) and is the ancestress of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and last year's G3 Flame of Tara S. scorer Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) and Listed Washington Singer S. winner Victory Dance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €650,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-14, 3yo, c, 8fT, 1:38.56, vsf.
1–MARHABA YA SANAFI (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Muhaarar (GB)
1st Dam: Danega (GB), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Danelissima (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Zavaleta (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andreas Schutz; J-Mickael Barzalona. €371,410. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, €417,610. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Isaac Shelby (GB), 128, c, 3, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Kentucky Belle (Ire), by Heliostatic (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (£92,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Elaine Chivers (GB); T-Brian Meehan. €148,590.
3–Breizh Sky (Fr), 128, c, 3, Pedro The Great–Anna Danse (Fr), by Anabaa. (€14,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Alain Jathiere, Louis Baudron, Alessandro Botti, Giuseppe Botti & Ecurie Elag; B-Haras des Evees, Daniel Cherdo & Mme Claudie Cherdo (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti. €74,295.
Margins: SNK, 2, HD. Odds: 26.20, 4.40, 27.00.
Also Ran: Valimi (Fr), American Flag (Fr), Good Guess (GB), Kubrick (Ire), Hans Andersen (GB), Kendly (Fr). Scratched: Knight (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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In the Derby Trial, the two colts who went to post for the Listed Newmarket S. just eight days ago, Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}), venture forth again to try and squeeze into what could be an open contest next month.     While Waipiro was unable to take part at Newmarket after Tom Marquand was kicked, The King and Queen Consort's Circle Of Fire showed up with promise in the 10-furlong contest and it is notable that he is backing up uncharacteristically for a Sir Michael Stoute charge. Obviously connections are still harbouring an outside dream of the Royal colours being carried at Epsom, while Waipiro's trainer Ed Walker could be about to relive the buzz that his 2020 Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) provided.

“The tight nature of this track I don't think will suit many Derby-type horses, but he's a well-balanced horse and I would rather run on the all-weather than heavy ground,” he said. “We don't have a heap of mile-and-a-half horses to compare him to, so we need to compare them to other peoples. So we go there knowing as much as you do really.”

One For Inquiring Minds

If ever a son of Kingman (GB) was going to have a genuine Derby contender, it would be in the mould of Anthony Oppenheimer's Inquiring Minds (GB) whose dam Precious Ramotswe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was successful in the 14-furlong G3 Bronte Cup. Impressive on his 10-furlong debut at Newcastle 11 days prior to this test, the John and Thady Gosden trainee is another who is being sent back into action unusually quickly for a stable renowned for patience. “This will tell us what kind of standard he is,” Oppenheimer said of the homebred, who bids to provide the stable with its first winner of this since Percussionist (Ire) in 2004. “The King Edward is the sort of race one thinks he might enjoy–I would think he will be more suited to Ascot. I think he is quite useful, but I don't think he's number one in the stable, so I don't think we can expect too much.”

A Valid Point?

With the switch to the Polytrack for the two Classic trials, it may be that proven form on the surface counts for a lot. For all the proven class of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's TDN Rising Star and G1 Fillies' Mile third Bright Diamond (Ire) (El Kabeir) and Ballydoyle's G3 Prix Penelope third Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Godolphin's pair Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sunset Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) have won at Chelmsford and at this track respectively. The latter, who scored by seven lengths on her 3-year-old bow in a Windsor handicap last month, is a daughter of Hidden Gold (Ire) (Shamardal) who captured the Listed River Eden Fillies' S. over this track and surface and who hails from the ultimate Epsom family of Galileo (Ire), Sea The Stars (Ire) and Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). “Both don't look out of place in the field and this should give us a gauge for their future,” trainer Charlie Appleby said.

Draws Made For Poulains and Pouliches

ParisLongchamp's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches took their final shape on Friday, with manageable fields of 10 for both negating the worst effects of the draw. On that front, there was good news for Wathnan Racing as their high-profile acquisition Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is in stall one for the colts' Classic next to Malcolm Parrish's likely favourite American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Aidan O'Brien is to be represented only by 'TDN Rising Star' Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who breaks from stall six which is also the draw handed to the stable's sole Pouliches representative Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Inside Post For Blue

Yeguada Centurion SL's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G3 Prix de la Grotte scorer Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was handed stall one for the Pouliches, with Jean-Claude Seroul, Haras d'Etreham and Riviera Equine's Ritournelle (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) next door in two. While Blue Rose Cen should be sent forward from that favourable draw, Ritournelle who was beaten a head by Showay (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville will be arriving late on her return to a mile. “I did regret not running her in the 1000 Guineas, given that the ground at Newmarket was riding soft and because she loves a straight course,” trainer Jerome Reynier admitted. “Ritournelle has done nothing but improve with each race, her preparation has gone well and so we can go to into the race calmly and confidently.”

Can Rouget Turn It Around?

This season has hardly gone to plan for Jean-Claude Rouget, with most of the Classic trials for once passing him by, but in The Aga Khan's Valimi (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}) and White Birch Farm's Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) he has two live Poulains contenders. Valimi, who took April's course-and-distance Prix Machado conditions event, has the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Val Royal (Fr) in his pedigree while Kubrick's half-brother Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has two top-level successes to his name at the trip. “Valimi and Kubrick did their final serious pieces of work on the grass at Deauville racecourse on Tuesday–the ground was very soft and they were not visibly inconvenienced by it,” Rouget said. “Both were giving me concern in this respect beforehand, especially Kubrick. He made a good return [when fourth] in the Prix Djebel and I was satisfied with his performance. Valimi improved for his return effort at Saint-Cloud and very quickly set the record straight last time.”

Testing Ground For Sunday

Charles de Cordon, who has the task of preparing the track at ParisLongchamp, is expecting the mile Classics to be stamina tests. “It has rained a lot in the Parisian region during the first part of the week, but the track has been drying out,” he said. “We expect the ground to ride very soft on Sunday and anticipate a penetrometer reading of around 3.9. There will be a 10-metre strip of fresh ground and the open-stretch, five metres out from the running rail, will also come into play.”

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Brian Meehan, absorbing a first success in the contest, commented, “He is smart and I've always thought so. Things went wrong at Newmarket and he came back lame, but luckily it wasn't serious. We got him right within a couple of weeks and, touch wood, he's been 100 per cent since. I was so disappointed in the Dewhurst, because he was not the finished article and there was so much more to come. Mentally he's always been a calm horse, but Newmarket was only his third run. He has won a Group 2 on good-to-firm and he seems to go on everything. Chaldean was very unfortunate and nobody wants to see that happen to anyone. It is a shame for Andrew and Juddmonte.”

However, Isaac Shelby will not be returning to Newmarket anytime soon, according to the trainer, and is set on a course for ParisLongchamp's May 14 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. “He is in the French Guineas, which was always the plan. He didn't go to the [G3] Craven because I was spooked by Newmarket and I don't want to go back there until he's a little older and more mature. It will be the French Guineas and then we'll take it from there.”

Despite an unexpected turn of events for the 5-4 favourite, trainer Andrew Balding reflected in positive tones. “He was fit and well and ready to run a big race, but it was one of those unfortunate things,” he said. “We are just thankful it was a trial, the horse seems to have come back fine and Frankie is fine. It is real bad luck, but it is what it is and we've got two weeks to the [G1 2000] Guineas. The Guineas was always the main aim and that's where we're going. He pulled up pretty quick, but it would have been a big problem if had he gone and done another circuit of the track. He's had a decent workout and probably enjoyed it.” Juddmonte's Barry Mahon added, “It was one of those freak things. The main thing is the horse is okay and the jockey is okay. Frankie said the horse beside him just came over and caught his leg and ripped it out of the stirrup. The horse was a little slow [from stall seven] and the horse on his outside [Streets Of Gold] came across [from stall eight] and caught his leg. No harm done and the horse has had a day out, which was the whole aim of today.”

Pedigree Notes
Isaac Shelby, one of 19 pattern-race winners for his sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), is the third of four foals and one of two winners produced by an unraced half-sister to GII Mac Diarmida H. victor Ramazotti (Honor Grades) and to the dam of dual stakes scorer Vow To Recover (Broken Vow). The April-foaled chestnut is half to an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Al Kazeem (GB). His second dam, the stakes-placed Mine Inning (Mining), is a daughter of Listed Revidere S. second Weed It Out (Clever Trick), herself kin to four pattern-race winners headed by GI American Derby hero Pocket Zipper (Full Pocket). Descendants of Weed It Out also include Listed Debutante S. winner She's My Warrior (Warrior's Reward), Listed Minnesota Derby scorer Thealligatorhunter (Overanalyze), Listed Oak Tree Sprint S. victrix Annie's Candy (Twirling Candy) and the Puerto Rican champion juvenile Wicked Runner (Wicked Strong).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
WATERSHIP DOWN STUD TOO DARN HOT GREENHAM S.-G3, £90,000, Newbury, 4-22, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:32.65, sf.
1–ISAAC SHELBY (GB), 128, c, 3, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Kentucky Belle (Ire), by Heliostatic (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mine Inning, by Mining
3rd Dam: Weed It Out, by Clever Trick
(£92,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Manton Thoroughbreds VII; B-Elaine Chivers (GB); T-Brian Meehan; J-Sean Levey. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $136,191. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Charyn (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £19,350.
3–Theoryofeverything (GB), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Persuasive (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (325,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £9,684.
Margins: 3, 5HF, HF. Odds: 7.50, 14.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Zoology (GB), Wiltshire (GB), Streets Of Gold (Ire), Knight (Ire), Grey's Monument (GB), The Ridler (GB), Classic (GB). DNF: Chaldean (GB) – unseated rider.

High drama in the Greenham!

Hot favourite Chaldean unships Frankie Dettori coming out of the stalls, leaving Isaac Shelby to make all the running under @LeveySean!

Brian Meehan appears to have a good horse on his hands but is he a genuine 2,000 Guineas contender? pic.twitter.com/8rJ0hLwvf9

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 22, 2023

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“We put him in the Champagne S. at Doncaster and that is probably likely to be his next spot,” said Meehan. “He has taken the race well. He has had a little break and we couldn't be happier with him.

“He was impressive in the way he battled like that. He wasn't going to stop. There is lots to look forward to and we are looking forward to the autumn.

“The plan is to definitely train him as a Guineas horse going forward. He is a colt with huge potential. Physically, you'd think there would be massive improvement to come, but he has plenty of time before Doncaster.”

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“You're always tempted to make predictions, but he's very nice and really is the business I think,” commented Brian Meehan after annexing his first win in the contest. “He looks really special and could even be a [G1 2000] Guineas horse. He's got a good temperament and Sean [Levey] knows him well, so they're a good package. We'd stay at seven [furlongs] now, which I think is ideal, but we won't be in any hurry [to go up in trip]. I think we'd train him as a Guineas horse now. These horses are special and they're the reason you do it. You get the most enjoyment out of training winners of course, but when you get horses like him with serious potential it's exciting. All winter he's looked like a nice horse, he's straightforward with a lovely temperament and is very easy to deal with. We've got a great team at home with some very good judges and they've always liked him. It's easy to think that he was going to be nice, but this is high-end stuff and he's really proven himself. We'll take it step by step and won't rush into things, but he's a horse that we think is going to improve and physically there's still massive improvement there. We'll get him back and sit round the table and make a little plan after a week or so. Goodwood would come too soon, but the [G2] Champagne [at Doncaster in September] is a race I've thought about. I love the Breeders' Cup so the [GI] Juvenile Turf is one we'll definitely factor into our thoughts as well. I'm so pleased for Sam [Sangster], we do a lot together. He buys horses for me and my clients as a bloodstock agent and he runs these partnerships as well. It keeps the [Robert Sangster] colours alive which is really cool, he's a great guy and I can't thank him enough for his support.”

Charlie Appleby was not downcast after the narrow defeat of Victory Dance, who remains on target for the Curragh's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., according to the trainer, despite the reversal. “The winner is a nice horse as he won that maiden at Newbury nicely and I feel we have more to go forward with as well,” he said. “We saw him there on his first start only just getting the hang of it and, when he got into a battle, he did well for his inexperience. I think going forward we have got all the options now, but I won't take him to somewhere like the [G2] Vintage [at Goodwood]. If we seek significant improvement at home we will carry on with Plan A and head to the [G1 Vincent O'Brien] National.”

Richard Hannon, a dual winner of this contest, was satisfied with the display of Dark Thirty and reflected, “It was a step up from his [Listed] Chesham run and I'm very happy with it. The interference wasn't ideal, but the best horse has won. We are delighted with our fellow as he has got home very well and he will get further in time. He would have finished closer, but I don't think he would have finished a position closer. He is a very nice horse and a class horse to look forward to the rest of the year. We wouldn't be far away in some of those seven-furlong Group 3s and he is definitely not average. There is the [G3] Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville, which would be ideal.”

Isaac Shelby, who becomes the 17th pattern-race scorer for his sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), is the third of four foals and one of two winners produced by an unraced half-sister to GII Mac Diarmida H. victor Ramazotti (Honor Grades) and to the dam of dual stakes winner Vow To Recover (Broken Vow). The April-foaled chestnut is a half-brother to a yearling colt by Al Kazeem (GB). The April-foaled chestnut's dam Kentucky Belle (Ire) (Heliostatic {Ire}) is a daughter of Listed Prom S. placegetter Mine Inning (Mining), herself out of Listed Revidere S. runner-up Weed It Out (Clever Trick). Descendants of Weed It Out also include Listed Debutante S. victrix She's My Warrior (Warrior's Reward), Listed Minnesota Derby scorer Thealligatorhunter (Overanalyze), Listed Oak Tree Sprint S. heroine Annie's Candy (Twirling Candy) and the Puerto Rican champion juvenile Wicked Runner (Wicked Strong). Weed It Out's siblings include GI American Derby hero Pocket Zipper (Full Pocket).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 SUPERLATIVE S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 7-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.13, g/f.
1–ISAAC SHELBY (GB), 129, c, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Kentucky Belle (Ire), by Heliostatic (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mine Inning, by Mining
3rd Dam: Weed It Out, by Clever Trick
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£92,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Manton Thoroughbreds VII; B-Elaine Chivers (GB); T-Brian Meehan; J-Sean Levey. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $72,686. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Victory Dance (Ire), 129, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Dane Street, by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (700,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Godolphin; B-Airlie Stud & Mrs S Rogers (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £21,500.
3–Dark Thirty (Ire), 129, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Beach Wedding (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£90,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Martin Hughes & Michael Kerr-Dineen; B-Lynn Lodge Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £10,760.
Margins: HD, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 1.25, 10.00.
Also Ran: For A Laugh (Ire), Lion of War (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Head-on footage of the finish to the @bet365 Superlative Stakes @NewmarketRace shows the interference the winner, Isaac Shelby, caused the eventual third, Dark Thirty pic.twitter.com/V1LyDRRdP7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 9, 2022

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