Observations: River Tiber Takes Aim at Naas

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Insights features the return of TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett ({GB}) at Naas.

13.45 Naas, Cond, €40,000, 2yo, 5fT
RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is dropped back slightly in trip by Aidan O'Brien following his 10-length demolition job at Naas last month, for which he was deservedly handed a TDN Rising Star tag. Pulled out of his intended debut at The Curragh which was won by the stable's fellow TDN Rising Star Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never), the 480,000gns Book 1 purchase from the family of the 2013 G1 Phoenix S. winner Sudirman (Henrythenavigator) is the pick of Ryan Moore over that full-brother to Midnight Mile (Ire).

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Musidora A Springboard For Midnight Mile Says Fahey

Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never) will make her 3-year-old bow in the G3 Musidora S. at York in May, according to trainer Richard Fahey, who also set early season targets for several stable stars.

Last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland when she was fourth to Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), the bay filly was a debut winner at Doncaster in July and followed that with a victory in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket in October. Fahey will have her skip the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in favour of middle distances this summer, as she looks bred to stay in excess of a mile.

“I'm very pleased with her at the moment, she's wintered very well and she's going nicely,” said Fahey. “I was a little bit frustrated at the Breeders' Cup that she didn't bounce and run and get the place we wanted her to be in, but that's racing. It was only the third run of her life and she's bred to be a better 3-year-old. I was pleased we learned a bit more about her. I'm going to skip the Guineas and all that. I'm going to step her up to a mile and a quarter and start her off in something like the Musidora. I think I'd take her straight there, I just haven't rushed her this year and let her mature, which she has done, and we'll have a second-half of the season campaign.”

Another 3-year-old filly in the yard who will head for a Guineas trial is Barefoot Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), winner of the G3 Firth of Clyde S. and who was fourth in Redcar's Two Year Old Trophy under a penalty.

“She was another who didn't bounce and race that day at Redcar, but we'll run her in a Guineas trial and see what happens,” said Fahey. “She's in both Guineas and we'll play it by ear after her trial to see what we want to do. It will be Newmarket or Newbury for a trial.”

Fahey hit the bullseye at Royal Ascot last season with The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), a 50-1 winner of the G2 Norfolk S., but the juvenile colt was last behind Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Prix Morny S. at Deauville in late August.

“The Ridler is good and he'll start off in the [G3] Greenham [S.] and see where we go after that,” said Fahey. “He just didn't come back as I'd have liked after France, but he's done extremely well over the winter, so we're still undecided whether he's a sprinter or whether we can stretch him out.”

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No Nay Never’s Midnight Mile Pounces Late For Oh So Sharp Triumph

Roisin Henry's once-raced Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never–Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), who opened her account with a July 16 debut score tackling six furlongs at Doncaster, returned in style with a last-gasp victory in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp S. upped to seven for her black-type debut at Newmarket. The 22-1 chance was steadied and shuffled back through the pack to race in rear after a slick exit. Nudged along to reduce arrears approaching the dip, she negotiated traffic to go seventh entering the final furlong and kept on powerfully up the hill to deny Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by a head in the dying strides for a career high.

“She had her first run at Doncaster and Richard [Fahey] said we will let her have a learning experience and she won which was fantastic,” the winning owner explained. “She then had a bit of break and we said we would let her have a bit of a run here today if the ground was soft enough. We didn't expect anything, we thought it was another bit of education as it was another step up, but that was fantastic. She was checked and I thought that had knocked the wind out of her sails. She was running well prior to that, but she battled on and she did that in her first race to. She is a battler.”

Reflecting on a difficult start to life for the filly, Mrs Henry added, “This filly was born by caesarean section as they knew that the mare was in trouble so the veterinary team in Coolmore and the Fethard Veterinary Hospital were amazing. When she was born they must have had 15 guys standing around her awaiting this foal. It was incredible. The fact we got a live foal was amazing and the fact the mare is still alive is amazing. She is really special. You don't expect these kind of ones to go on to be race fillies. She is very well bred and we thought we would hang on to her. It is so exciting. I've dreamt enough now, but if it doesn't get any better than this that's fine. The jockey [Oisin Orr] gave her a super ride and he was very confident with her. He rides her at home so he knows her which is lovely.”

Orr continued, “Through the race I was on and off the bridle and when we can down to the two [-furlong pole] I really asked her. I was just tight of room for a stride or two, but I switched left she has quickened up nicely and done it well. She does everything well at home and has done nothing wrong on the racetrack so far. Hopefully she can keep on improving.”

Midnight Mile, full-sister to a yearling colt, is the third of four reported foals and lone runner out of a full-sister to G3 Noblesse S. and Listed Cheshire Oaks runner-up Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The January-foaled bay's dam is also kin to an additional five black-type performers headed by G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and the multiple Classic-placed G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Descendants of the latter include G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and G1 Fillies' Mile third You'll Be Mine (Kingmambo), herself the dam of multiple Group-winning G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Ranvet S. placegetter Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Midnight Mile's third dam is Lanwades Stud stalwart Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}).

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
GODOLPHIN LIFETIME CARE OH SO SHARP S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-7, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.75, gd.
1–MIDNIGHT MILE (IRE), 128, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Ruby Tuesday (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs Roisin Henry; B-Premier Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Oisin Orr. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $44,354. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lose Yourself (Ire), 128, f, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Stellar Path (Fr), by Astronomer Royal. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (260,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Valmont; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & T Stewart (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £12,900.
3–Small Oasis (GB), 128, f, 2, Sioux Nation–Collegiate (Ire), by Declaration of War. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (2,500gns RNA Ylg '21 TATSOM). O-John Nolan; B-Scarlett Knipe (GB); T-Michael Grassick. £6,456.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 22.00, 4.50, 10.00.
Also Ran: Tagline (GB), Crystallium (GB), Red N Blue Candy, Believing (Ire), Queen Olly (Ire), Rage Of Bamby (Ire), Youngest (GB), Immortal Beauty (Ire).

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