Starspangledbanner’s Carla’s Way Brilliant In The Rockfel; Has BC Juvenile Fillies Turf Berth

All who witnessed the Doncaster debut success of Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Sulaalaat {GB}, by New Approach {Ire})) already knew that she was a talented performer, but Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's imposing chestnut had to show it where it matters and she duly delivered in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel S. at Newmarket.

Gifted an ideal lead, a strong pace and fast conditions in this seven-furlong “Win and You're In” for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the Crisfords' 7-2 shot was not for catching once James Doyle had committed passing two out.

Despite the admirable effort of the 13-8 favourite Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) from an impossible position, the contest had already been decided and there was a safe 2 1/4-length margin between them at the line. Ballydoyle's G3 Silver Flash S.-winning TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was back to form a further 2 1/2 lengths away in third, but was outpaced some way out in a race that looked top-level in all but name.

Carla's Way, who had showed she could run as fast as only the best can do when defeating the smart pair Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Serene Seraph (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) on her introduction 20 days before disappointing when eighth in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, had undergone a wind operation before finishing second to the subsequent G2 May Hill S. winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) on ground that would have been unsuitably soft in Goodwood's G3 Prestige S. last month.

Simon Crisford is looking at Santa Anita as a real possibility now that she has the ticket. “She did it really well, I think the fractions early on were pretty strong so all credit to her for picking up well,” he said. “I think she was slightly running on empty the last hundred yards, so that's probably as far as she wants to go trip-wise. I think the Fillies' Mile back here in two weeks might just be stretching her stamina too much, but a quick two-turn mile at the Breeders' Cup in California might be okay.”

Ed Crisford added, “There is a lot of New Approach in her and she is a big, tall, scopey filly and for sure next year she should train on. Whether she will quite stay a mile I'm not sure. We will get this year out of the way and then think about next year and see how she is training over the winter before thinking of the 1000 Guineas.”

Shuwari's trainer Ollie Sangster has no stamina concerns for the runner-up, who lost nothing in surrendering her unbeaten record racing against the bias against a top-drawer opponent. “I was very happy and she ran great,” he said. “I suppose the way the race panned out, she had a lot to do but she stayed on well. We will see how the next week goes, but we could think about coming back for the [Oct. 13] Fillies' Mile. She had been off for 64 days and she will come on again, so will definitely think about that.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Carla's Way, who at £350,000 was the second-highest-priced filly at the Goffs UK 2yo Breeze Up Sale, is the third of three current foals out of Sulaalaat who sported the Shadwell silks and was at her best over this trip. Registering a career-best in a handicap at the same Doncaster venue at which her daughter starred on debut, she is a full-sister to the dam of another member of the 2023 juvenile class who has produced something out of the ordinary in the Ripon debut winner but subsequently disappointing Listed Rose Bowl S.-placed Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

The third dam Sumoto (GB) (Mtoto {GB}) was responsible for the G1 Eclipse S. hero Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer), the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Twyla Tharp (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) who in turn produced the G1 Irish Champion S., G1 Prince of Wales's S., G1 Nassau S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}). This is also the family of the high-class G1 July Cup and G1 Prix de la Foret winner Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}).

 

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI ROCKFEL S.-G2, £107,000, Newmarket, 9-29, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:23.01, g/f.
1–CARLA'S WAY (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Sulaalaat (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Danehill Dreamer, by Danehill
3rd Dam: Sumoto (GB), by Mtoto (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£350,000 2yo '23 GOUKB). O-Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa; B-Grove Stud & David Spratt (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-James Doyle. £60,680. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $100,265. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shuwari (Ire), 128, f, 2, New Bay (GB)–Lady Pimpernel (GB), by Sir Percy (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (80,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs B V Sangster & Ballylinch Partnership; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Ollie Sangster. £23,005.
3–Ylang Ylang (GB), 128, f, 2, Frankel (GB)–Shambolic (Ire), by Shamardal. (1,500,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith,Brant & Westerberg; B-Newsells Park Stud & Merry Fox Stud (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £11,513.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 1.63, 2.50.
Also Ran: Spiritual (Ire), Zenjabeela (GB), Carolina Reaper (GB). Scratched: Alshinfarah (Ire), Marcella (Ger).

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Elusive Princess Dominates the Saratoga Oaks in American Debut

Nobody was going to rain on Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}–Elusive Action {Fr}, by Elusive City)'s parade as she emerged from the bog that was Saratoga's lawn Friday to score her first stakes win in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. With pouring rain that led to an abandoned post parade and eventually cancelled the rest of the card, the field for the Saratoga Oaks went straight from the paddock to the gate.

Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) controlled the pace through :23.55 and :48.57 early fractions while Elusive Princess parked under cover on the rail several lengths in arrears. The rain continued to fall as Elusive Princess, American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), and Papilio (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) all launched their bids on the turn just as Selenaia threw in the towel. The latter two raced in tandem while extremely wide with Elusive Princess angling out even wider, at least a dozen paths out from the rail. The winner blew right by the wide duo, prompting Flavien Prat to ease up and the filly's ears to prick several strides before the wire. They finished 3 1/4 lengths to the good.

“I thought I was in a good position,” said Prat. “She actually jumped better than I thought and she was traveling well. Really handy and when I had a chance I thought not taking any risk then the two horses in front of me came really shifting out, but I ended up fine. I was actually on the good ground so I was okay with it. I was going to go outside, but I ended up being a lot wider than I thought.”

Winner of three in a row in France to close out 2022 and open 2023, including two over the boys, Elusive Princess placed in both the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G3 Prix Cleopatre this spring. She finished well but missed the board in her final French start–the June 18 G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly.

Hubert Guy of Bloodstock Management Services was instrumental in bringing Elusive Princess stateside.

“I thought she was a filly that would fit really well here in this country,” said Guy. “Jean-Phillipe [Dubois] trains her, owns her, bred her, and really did not want to part with her. After she was second in [the Prix Cleopatre] where she got into a lot of trouble–she got blocked on the rail and should have won easy–he decided to sell off. So, I contacted Alex [Solis] and Jason [Litt] and LNJ Foxwoods–Larry, Nanci, Jaime–and we agreed on a deal that he would train the horse to the French Oaks and maybe no later, but when she finished fifth in the French Oaks, [it was] an amazing fifth because she was way too far back. She should have been closer. We wouldn't have won, but we would have been second or third.

“From there, we decided to run in this race with the LNJ Foxwoods team and to have Mr. Dubois train her because he did a really good job training her. It's the first time he's running in America.

“This looked like a good spot to get started in this country. She's going to stay here now and she will be trained by Arnaud Delacour and running for LNJ Foxwoods and Mr. Dubois is keeping his half.

“We thought it was a good spot to start–beautiful venue here, Saratoga is magic. It worked out really good. She's very good on the soft. She's very good on the firm. She's a special filly.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

Haras de la Baie stands the Japanese-bred Martinborough (Jpn), a multiple Group winner in Japan who notched his first graded winner with Elusive Princess's Saratoga Oaks win. The Deep Impact (Jpn) sire has just four small crops of racing age, all in France. He got his first black-type winner earlier this year at Cagnes-sur-Mer, bringing his total count of stakes winners to two. Elusive Princess is also the 28th stakes winner out of a daughter of Elusive City, who died in 2019 at age 19 at Haras d'Etreham in France after suffering a heart attack.

Elusive Princess is the first foal of her unraced dam, who also has a yearling full-sister to the Saratoga Oaks winner. Elusive Princess's fourth dam, Irish highweight Diamond Seal (Ire) (Persian Bold {Ire}), produced three Group winners and a Group-placed daughter who produced three more.

Friday, Saratoga
FASIG-TIPTON SARATOGA OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $400,000, Saratoga, 8-4, 3yo, f, 1 3/16mT, 1:57.08, sf.
1–ELUSIVE PRINCESS (FR), 121, f, 3, by Martinborough (Jpn)
             1st Dam: Elusive Action (Fr), by Elusive City
             2nd Dam: Diamond Flawless (Fr), by Cape Cross (Ire)
             3rd Dam: Dee Flawless (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-LNJ Foxwoods, Ecurie Victoria Dreams, NK Racing and Anthony V. Munafo; B/T-Jean-Philippe Dubois (FR); J-Flavien Prat. $220,000. Lifetime Record: GISP-Fr, 8-4-2-0, $378,379. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–American Sonja (GB), 121, f, 3, Tasleet (GB)–Gumhrear (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (22,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; £30,000 Ylg '21 TATIRY; 95,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Mark Dobbin; B-Whatcote Farm Stud (GB); T-Joseph Patrick O'Brien. $80,000.
3–Papilio (Ire), 121, f, 3, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Glafyra (Fr), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€60,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-D. J. Stable LLC, Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler and Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-SCEA Marmion & Mr A. Jathiere (Ire); T-Mark E. Casse. $48,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, HF, 6 3/4. Odds: 1.35, 9.50, 3.95.
Also Ran: Caroline Street, Strikingly Spun, Xigera, Allamericanbeauty, Selenaia (Ire), Solo Album, Honor D Lady. Scratched: Aspen Grove (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Full-Sister to G1 Cheveley Park Heroine Millisle Set for Naas Bow

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. Saturday's Insights features a full sister to G1 Cheveley Park heroine Millisle at Naas.

14.45 Naas, Cond, €25,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT
Stonethorn Stud Farms Ltd's homebred EMERALD BANNER (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is kin to four black-type performers headed by her G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning full-sister Millisle (Ire). She is one of two nominees for Millisle's trainer Jessica Harrington in a contest annexed by the stable last year. Her 11 rivals include Dundalk maiden winner and G3 Marble Hill S. fourth Buyin Buyin (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), from the Willie Browne stable.

14.10 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 5fT
Yuesheng Zhang's debutante HEAVENLY BEING (IRE) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a €525,000 Goffs Orby yearling, is out of Listed Prix La Fleche victrix Rapacity Alexander (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and thus kin to G1 Matron S. heroine No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}). She hails from latter's Jessica Harrington nursery and is opposed by 11 in this dash.

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Starspangledbanner’s Barnwell Boy Surges To TDN Rising Stardom At Goodwood

Jane Newett's Barnwell Boy (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Frilly {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) became the latest juvenile to stake a claim for Royal Ascot with a taking debut success in Friday's William Hill/British EBF Novice S. over six furlongs at Goodwood. The contest has become a useful yardstick having thrown high-class winners in the past, with Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) annexing the 2017 renewal and Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) winning last year's edition.

Barnwell Boy, a Charlie Johnston trainee, broke sharply and seized an immediate lead. Holding sway throughout, the 5-1 chance was nudged along passing the quarter-mile marker and surged clear, despite drifting left, under mild coaxing inside the final furlong to easily outclass Packard (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by an impressive 4 1/2 lengths. He is the fourth TDN Rising Star for Starspangledbanner, whose honour roll includes multiple Group 1-placed sprinter Flotus (Ire).

“He's not very big, but he's pretty sharp and was ready to go,” said Mark Johnston. “We didn't know what to expect first-time-out as we didn't know what we were up against. Oisin [Murphy] came in and said he's very fast and that he was quite impressed. I suppose, on pedigree, he's not one we'd have thought as an out-and-out five-furlong horse. We'll have to go home and maybe think that way now. With any 2-year-old winner at this time of year, you always have to be thinking is this a [Royal] Ascot, or not. Maybe we'll be thinking about the [Listed] Windsor Castle now.”

Barnwell Boy is the first of two foals produced by an unraced daughter of three-time G3 Summer S. victrix Ladies Are Forever (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}), herself a full-sister to dual G1 Haydock Sprint Cup third Hoof It (GB). The January-foaled homebred chestnut is a half-brother to a weanling filly by Kingman (GB).

1st-Goodwood, £15,000, Nov, 5-26, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.09, gd.
BARNWELL BOY (GB), c, 2, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Frilly (GB), by Frankel (GB)
2nd Dam: Ladies Are Forever (GB), by Monsieur Bond (Ire)
3rd Dam: Forever Bond (GB), by Danetime (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £7,851. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Jane Newett (GB); T-Charlie Johnston; J-Oisin Murphy.

 

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