Say The Word newest Grade 1 winner for More Than Ready
Say The Word (Can) (More Than Ready {USA}) earned his first Graded stakes victory in a big way on Sunday with a win in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf S. Presented by Pattison.
Racing from last, the 5-year-old gelding took the lead near the end of the 2400 metre race and had 1l on Sir Sahib (USA) (Fort Larned {USA}) at the end with race favourite Admiralty Pier (USA) (English Channel {USA}) another 1.5l back in third.
“I literally just held the mane for pretty much the first mile and a quarter. Then as I gathered him up, I knew… I just knew. He was gaining on them last time and I just knew when he straightened, he was already in flight and it was going to be tough to beat him,” said jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson.
The winner of five of his 25 starts, Say The Word is the 25th worldwide Grade or Group 1 winner for the legendary More Than Ready (USA). The second Graded stakes winner for dam Danceforethecause (Can) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), Say The Word is a great grandson of Canadian Horse of the Year and successful broodmare Dance Smartly (Can) (Danzig {USA}), whose dam is bluehen Classy ‘N Smart (Can) (Smarten {USA}).
Etoile continues top month for Siyouni
It was a third Group 1 winner in three weeks for Siyouni (Fr) on Sunday in Canada when Etoile (Fr) held on for a win in the G1 E.P. Taylor S. over 2000 metres.
Racing a little over 1l behind the leading Theodora B (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) for much of the race, the 4-year-old was able to take command in the stretch and hold off a late charging Court Return (Can) (Court Vision {USA}) by a neck in the end.
“I heard the other horse coming late but I wish she was coming closer,” said jockey Rafael Hernandez. “It was too far out so my horse couldn’t see. That’s why I switched the whip to the left, to try to get her out and get her attention. But we did it.”
Siyouni has sired Grade 1 winners in three different countries this month, starting with Sottsass (Fr) in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe two weeks ago.
Bought for 750,000 gns (AU$1,496,250) at last year’s Tattersalls December Mares Sale, Etoile hails from the family of Archie Alexander-trained Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Gallic Chieftain (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}) and French Group 3 winner Aladdine (GB) (Naaqoos {GB}).
First stakes winner for Territories
The sire of seven stakes horses in his first crop, Darley stallion Territories (Ire) sired his first stakes winner when Fulgentia (GB) won the Listed Premio Ulbaldo Pandolfi in Italy.
Leaving her backers in suspense until the last few metres, Fulgentia took control just in time to cross the line in first.
The filly is out of a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Gitano Hernando (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and eight other winners with her fourth dam the G1 1000 Guineas winner Mrs Mcardy (GB) (Tribal Chief {GB}).
