Labeled a TDN Rising Star on debut at Leopardstown in July, Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) hadn't lived up to the billing in two subsequent starts but was back in the winning groove there on Thursday in the Listed King George V Cup. Failing to make an impact when over-racing and finishing last behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. in September and only sixth trying out his Derby credentials in the G3 Derby Trial again at this venue last month, the bay had some questions to answer here but was 11-10 to book his Royal Ascot ticket. Settled second throughout the early stages by Ryan Moore, the full-brother to the Irish Derby and St Leger hero Capri (Ire) took command 1 1/2 furlongs from the finish and was well on top at the line. There was a 1 3/4-length margin to Shamwari (Justify) there, with his late drift right mirroring his debut antics.
Aidan O'Brien was left scratching his head where the winner's exact Royal meeting target will be. “We're delighted he won, but we didn't learn a lot as it was a very slow pace,” he said. “We know that he can quicken, he did that as a two-year-old. There are a couple of races in Ascot, he could go either a mile-and-a-quarter or a mile-and-a-half. He might be a horse that likes to take his time and not be produced until late, Ryan gave him a perfect ride because they were going so slow he had to go. He ran bad in the Derby Trial and that was probably the ground and he was a bit keen behind Auguste Rodin here last year.”
“Looking at him, he's probably a mile-and-a-quarter plus horse who wants plenty of pace on in front of him and to take your time,” he added. “He tanks a bit, he's a strong traveller. He'll come forward from the run, as he still had a bit of a tummy on him. We'll play it by ear, but Ascot is the plan and we'll see then if he comes out of that okay.”
The dam's matings with Galileo have also provided the G3 Loughbrown S. winner Cypress Creek (Ire), the G3 Stanerra S. winner Passion (Ire) who was also third in the G1 Irish Oaks, the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Ribblesdale S., and the Fred Winter Hurdle winner Brazil (Ire). The second dam Diamilina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) was successful in the G2 Prix de Malleret and placed in the G1 Prix Vermeille, while this is also the family of the G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer (Ire) (Halling) and Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert), who was runner-up in the G1 St James's Palace S., G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Her yearling colt is by Camelot (GB).
KING GEORGE V CUP-Listed, €40,000, Leopardstown, 6-8, 3yo, 12fT, 2:42.60, gd.
1–TOWER OF LONDON (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa
2nd Dam: Diamilina (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Diamonaka, by Akarad (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €24,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $39,383. *Full to Cypress Creek (Ire), GSW-Ire, GSP-Eng, $102,373; Full to Capri (Ire), G1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire, G1SP-Fr, $2,067,692; Full to Passion (Ire), GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $200,604.
2–Shamwari, 126, f, 3, Justify–Adeste Fideles, by Giant's Causeway.
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs David Nagle & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien. €8,000.
3–Thunder Roll (Ire), 126, f, 3, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Swingland (GB), by Pivotal (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Annus Mirabilis Syndicate; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €4,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 1.10, 16.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Amusement (Ire), New Variant (Ire).
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Tower Of London is a classy winner of the Listed King George V Cup at 