Winter Power on top in Nunthorpe
Exceed And Excel granddaughter Winter Power (Ire) made Bungle inthejungle (GB) the newest Exceed And Excel son to sire a Group 1 winner on Friday with a win in the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York.
The 3-year-old filly was always close to the lead in the 1000-metre race and took over half-way through the running. She opened up a few lengths on the field but in the end saw Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) reduce her lead to 1.25l with Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in third.
“The best ones have that kick, that bit extra and she has it,” trainer Tim Easterby told Thoroughbred Daily News. “She doesn't take any training, she just lobs around at the back of the string and has done so well and thrived late summer. This spring, she was looking a bit light and backward but she's put on so much weight and looks tremendous now. She has relaxed and got great confidence in herself.”
Winter Power is one of three stakes performers for Titian Saga (Ire) (Titus Livius {Fr}), who has produced five winners from five to race overall. Titian Saga is also the half-sister to the dam of the Irish Champion Devonshire (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}).
Stradivarius back on top in Lonsdale Cup
Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) had run uncharacteristically at Royal Ascot but on Friday he was back to his winning ways with a victory in the G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup S., his third win in the race.
The 3300-metre race saw Stradivarius happily settle in second a few lengths off the leading The Grand Visir (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the four-horse field. The Grand Visir opened up his lead to nearly 10l midrace before Frankie Dettori started letting Stradivarius go with a little under 800 metres left. It wasn’t going to be as easy a race as Stradivarius normally runs, however, with Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) sticking with him stride for stride. Stradivarius proved to be the more determined of the pair, making sure his head was in front at the finish with The Grand Visir 7l behind the pair in third.
“I'm feeling emotional,” Dettori told Thoroughbred Daily News. “It was always going to be a messy race and I was using Richard (Kingscote on The Grand Visir) as a reference point, but Strad likes a target and so I pushed him close to William (Buick) and it worked–he only does enough and William would not go away, so it was a tremendous horse race. The reception he got–he's loved by everyone.”
Now an 18-time winner, Stradivarius is out of a half-sister to Australian stakes-placed Pirate Bay (GB) (Hawk Wing {USA}). His dam is also a half-sister to the grandam of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist (Ger), and the dam of Australian stakes-placed Soviet Courage (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}).
Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) is the new G1 Melbourne Cup favourite following his runner-up finish behind Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York.
Trained by Andrew Balding, Spanish Mission is now at a Cup quote of $11 with Incentivise (Shamus Award) out to $13 and Realm Of Flowers (So You Think {NZ}) is at $15 with Dawn Patrol (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Albahr wins Stonehenge S.
Cascadian’s (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) half-brother Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) became the newest stakes winner in the family with a victory in the Listed Longines Irish Champions Weekend EBF Stonehenge S. at Salisbury.
Racing over 1600 metres, the Charlie Appleby juvenile gelding was securing his third career win and second since being gelded in June. He raced in second for much of the race but responded when James Doyle asked for more to take over with just over 400 metres left. He had to duel with Power Of Beauty (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) for much of that time and briefly lost the lead before taking it back to win by 0.75l in the end with Sweeping (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) 6l in third.
Albahr is one of two stakes winners for G3 UAE Oaks winner Falls Of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) almongside G1 Doncaster winner Cascadian. Falls Of Lora is also a half-sister to Group 2 winner and Classic-placed Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Territories juvenile wins at York
Territories (Ire) secured another second-crop winner on Friday when Hoo Ya Mal (GB) won a York maiden by 2.5l.
The 2-year-old raced in the second half of the field under Oisin Murphy as they covered the first parts of the 1400-metre race. Murphy gave him his cue to run half way through and he worked his way through the field before taking the lead inside the final 200 metres. He made easy work of the race from there on with Dawn Of Liberation (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) 2.5l behind, 3.75l clear of third placed Vintage Choice (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Hoo Ya Mal is one of six winners from Sensationally (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), who is a daughter of G1 York International winner One So Wonderful (GB) (Nashwan {USA}). Sensationally is also a half-sister to the Grade 2 winner Sun Boat (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}) and the dam of Group 3 winner Four White Socks (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Natasha given Rising Star honours
George Strawbridge’s 2-year-old homebred Natasha (GB) (Frankel {GB}) seemed to take plenty from her debut earlier this month when she came back on Friday to earn TDN Rising Star honours with a romp at Kempton on the synthetic.
Going off as the race favourite in the 1600-metre run, she did more than prove her backers right from the start. She was an early leader and waved goodbye to the rest of the field with more than 400 metres left to run for a 5l victory over Moon Island (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) with Making Music (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) another 2.5l back in third.
“She was getting a little bit lonely in front and I was mindful to make her work to the line. I think she will improve again and will be a nice middle-distance filly for next year,” jockey Rab Havlin told Thoroughbred Daily News.
Natasha is a half-sister to the European Champion and Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Fr) and two other stakes placers from six runners out of Darkova (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}). Darkova is also a half-sister to the dam of Grade 3 winner and multiple Group 3-placed Guildsman (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and from the family of three-time Group 1 winner Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar {USA}).
