Simply Ravishing continues fairytale run in Alcibiades
Born the year after her More Than Ready (USA) dam was purchased for just US$500, Simply Ravishing (USA) (Laoban {USA}) scored a Grade 1 victory on her third start in the G1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland on Friday.
Making her first two starts on the turf, Simply Ravishing proved to be just as effective on the dirt when racing over 1700 metres. Taking the lead early on, the daughter of freshman sire Laoban (USA) never looked back. She crossed the wire 6.25l ahead of stablemate Crazy Beautiful (USA) (Liam’s Map {USA}) to stay undefeated in three runs.
“I felt like I had a lot of horse all the way. When we came to the straight, she just took off. She did it pretty easy, like normal. Like nothing. It was amazing. She’s a very good filly,” said jockey Luis Saez.
Purchased for US$50,000 last year, Simply Ravishing is the second foal out of Four Wishes (USA), who is out of a half-sister to stakes winner and producer Valid Affect (USA) (Valid Appeal {USA}). The extended family includes G1 Hong Hong Cup winner Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre {USA}), whose foals include multiple Group stakes winner and one time Chris Waller trainee One Foot In Heaven (Ire) (Fastnet Rock).
Harper’s First Ride secures Graded stakes win in Pimlico Special
Making his second career Graded stakes win in the G1 Pimlico Special S., Harpers First Ride (USA) (Paynter {USA}) made the most of it with a 2l victory in the race.
Scoring one for the home team, the Maryland-based gelding traded the lead with Owendale (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) throughout the 1900 metre race before putting him away in the stretch. The gelding pulled away in the closing stage to win by 2l for his second straight stakes victory.
The first winner for his dam Polyester (USA) (Tiz Wonderful {USA}), the gelding bred 3 x 4 to Cee’s Tizzy comes from the family of G3 JC Tibbie S. winner Spirit Bird (NZ) (Savabeel). That mare had her second foal in October, a colt by Shooting To Win after foaling a colt by Manhattan Rain in 2019.
That mare’s dam, a granddaughter of Harpers First Ride’s second dam is currently in foal to Capitalist.
Zaffy’s Pride newest stakes winner for Pride Of Dubai
Breaking her maiden last out at Dundalk, Zaffy’s Pride (Ire) was stretched out to 1400 metres for the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal S. on Friday night and scored an easy win for Pride Of Dubai.
Racing over the synthetics at Dundalk in Ireland she was asked for her best in the final two furlongs and held Magnanimous (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by 1.25l at the line.
The filly is the ninth winner and third stakes winner for Pride Of Dubai in the Northern Hemisphere. She is out of stakes placed Zaafran (GB) (Singspiel {GB}) who is a full sister to Listed winner Zayn Zen (GB), the dam of stakes winner Ennaadd (GB) (King’s Best {USA}).
