United Kingdom
Benbatl breaks record in Joel
2018 G1 Caulfield S. winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made his first trip to the winner’s enclosure since February 2020, an impressive one with a course record-breaking win in the G2 Unibet You’re On Joel S. at Newmarket.
Finishing third in the 1600-metre race last year after winning in 2019, Benbatl was out for revenge and played a prominent part in the race from the start. He took command as they entered the final 200 metres and put leader Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) away from there to win by 0.75l. Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was 0.5l behind in third with Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) rounding out the top four.
“He's been a machine for a number of years,” Oisin Murphy told Thoroughbred Daily News. “He gave me my first ever Royal Ascot winner. We're in 2021 now and he's still winning Group 2s. He is the horse of a lifetime.”
Nechita daughter wins Princess Royal
Earning her first stakes victory two starts ago, Nechita's daughter Forbearance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) added a Group 3 to her record in the G3 Unibet Princess Royal S. at Newmarket on Friday.
Forbearance won by 2.5l over Sayyida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in third.
G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Nechita (Fastnet Rock) is also the dam of this filly’s Australian Group 3 winning full brother Harpo Marx (Ire) from her two winners from four to race. A $1.55 million Magic Millions purchase in 2013 by Tom Magnier, she was exported later this year to Ireland. She returned to Australia in December 2020 after being bred to Frankel (GB).
Gran Sabana outruns odds in Rising Star performance
Kingman (GB) daughter Gran Sabana (Ire) went off at 20-1 odds at Chantilly on Friday but came home a Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star with a 1l debut win.
She showed a strong turn of foot to get to Andromede (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the closing stages to win by 1l.
“We never really ask them to show us the truth at home, but we really hoped she would show us some good things today and she did so very nicely,” trainer Pia Brandt told Thoroughbred Daily News. “We'll see how she comes out of the race and hope she takes it well.”
The juvenile filly is out of stakes-placed Cascading (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is a half-sister to French champion and Widden Stud shuttle stallion National Defense (Ire). The family also includes this year’s G1 Cazoo Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
France
Onesto follows Gran Sabana to Rising Stardom
Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) earned Thoroughbred Rising Star honours at Chantilly with a 2.5l win.
The 1600-metre race saw him restrained early while racing keenly and he was happy to show his talent once released. With 300 metres to run, he showed he was going to be an easy winner as he powered away from Badge (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) for a debut victory.
Onesto is out of Onshore (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a three-quarter sister to G3 Easter Cup winner Jet Away (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). That entire was raced in Australia for two years before returning to Europe to stand at stud in 2014. Onesto’s third dam Kerali (GB) (High Line {GB}) produced the great broodmare Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) among others.
Ireland
Dundalk produces Rising Star to end the day
Angels Wrath (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) made headlines on Friday night at Dundalk in Ireland when she easily won by 3.25l for a Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star tag.
The 1400 metre synthetic race proved to be her coming-out party when Ben Coen released her in the stretch. She showed some greenness once taking over the lead but had plenty of talent in hand to stay well in front with Kitty Kitana (GB) (Bobby’s Kitten {USA}) settling for second and West Coast (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third.
“She was still plenty green, so there's a lot to work on,” Coen told Thoroughbred Daily News. “We liked her coming here, as she quickened very smart in her barrier trial and that experience was a big help to her."
A homebred for Newtown Anner Stud, the filly is out of a half-sister to Fastnet Rock’s stakes winner Naughty Or Nice (Ire) and Group 3-placed Dark Crusader (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The extended family includes G3 Moonga S. winner Lord Of The Dance (Ashkalani {Ire}).
