Lady Bowthorpe gets well-deserved Group 1
Close to a Group 1 victory in two other attempts this year, third time was the charm for Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) when she won the G1 Qatar Nassau S. on Thursday.
Racing over 2000 metres on the Good-to-Soft ground, the 5-year-old started making an impact a little over 400 metres out and took over inside the final 200 metres. Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) tried to catch her but it was a futile attempt as Lady Bowthorpe won by 1.5l with Joan Of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 0.5l back in third.
“I'm pretty speechless to be honest. Lady Bowthorpe is such a special mare. I just feel lucky to be a part of her. It's fantastic for the whole team, Emma Banks, William Jarvis,” said jockey Kieran Shoemark of winning his first Group 1.
Lady Bowthorpe is a half-sister to the multiple Group winner Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Brazen Beau’s stakes-placed Pretty In Grey (GB) among her dam’s three to race. Her five-time winning dam is also a half-sister to the multiple Group winner Tullius (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}).
Ottoman Emperor gives OTI Goodwood win
OTI Racing look to have a G1 St Leger runner on their hands after Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) secured a win in the G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S. over 2400 metres.
Always racing close up, the 3-year-old colt was asked to do just a little more by jockey Ben Coen as they entered the final 800 metres then asked to get serious 200 metres later. It didn’t take long for Ottoman Emperor to take the lead and he put in just enough effort to hold off Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) by 0.5l at the line with Third Realm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in third.
“We came here to find out is he a mile-and-a-half horse? Can he stay a mile and six? I think he answered a lot of questions today,” said trainer Johnny Murtagh. “We'd love to give him a shot at the St Leger next because it's a very nice race and we'd love to have a live chance in it.”
Ottoman Emperor is the first named foal out of the winning Tertullian (Ire) mare Ibiza Empress (Ire). That mare is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Pleasant Surprise (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and is from the family of another OTI Racing runner in G3 Geelong Cup winner Ibicenco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}).
Asymmetic newest Group winner for Showcasing
Winning his first two starts, Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) was just a head short of staying undefeated last out in a Group 2 and bounced back for a win in the G2 Unibet Richmond S. over 1200 metres on Thursday.
The Showcasing (GB) colt raced near the back of the pack for much of the early going in the 1200-metre race and didn’t get a chance to show his best running until inside the final 400 metres. It wasn’t until the closing stages that he was able to make a serious impact, taking the lead from Khunan (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) as they raced past the 200-metre mark. In the end, he had 0.5l on that one at the line with a battle for the runner-up position. Gubbass (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) had to settle for third behind Khunan by a nose with all seven runners in the field within 3.5l of each other at the line.
“We were always going to step back and take a lead on him. I was just hoping they wouldn't get first run on him,” said trainer Alan King. “He picked up very well. Martin was very happy with him and was going to have one crack at them. They went steady early which was something I wasn't sure about.”
By former shuttler Showcasing, Asymmetric is the first foal out of the two-time winner Swirral Edge (GB) (Hellvelyn {GB}). Also in the family is stakes winner Inyordreams (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), whose son Super Contender (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) was imported to Australia in early 2020 and has run in the top three six of nine times while in Australia.
Aswan wins at Goodwood
Former shuttler Caravaggio (USA) registered another first-crop winner on Thursday when Aswan (Ire) won on the Goodwood card over 1400 metres.
Aswan broke a step slowly but was soon just a few lengths behind the leader in midpack. The colt started creeping closer around the Goodwood turn before getting serious inside the final 300 metres. Aswan stuck his head in front as they passed by the 200-metre mark and started to pull ahead by a few lengths before a group of three late closers cut his lead to 0.5l. Ardad’s (Ire) Blue Collar Lad (GB) finished the best of the closing trio with Holy Roman Emperor’s (Ire) Bastogne (Ire) in third by a nose.
“Aswan has done nothing wrong, he's steadily progressive and (trainers Simon and Ed Crisford) are really starting to hit their straps now, which is great. He's learning all the time, but he had to be fairly brave late on and he was,” said jockey James Doyle.
Aswan is out of a full sister to the New Zealand Group 3-placed Asama Blue (Ire) (Fastnet Rock). That mare is still at stud in New Zealand with her oldest an unnamed Tavistock (NZ) juvenile colt. She also has a yearling Savabeel filly and a weanling U S Navy Flag (USA) filly. She was bred to Ten Sovereigns (Ire) for 2021.
