By Tom Frary
3rd-GAL, €18,000, Mdn, 8-5, 2yo, 8f 73yT, 1:54.12, sf.
AMEDEO MODIGLIANI (IRE), c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Gooseberry Fool (GB) (GSP-Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Last Second (Ire), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
Amedeo Modigliani was the epitome of an eye-catcher even before he fulfilled that tag when a strong-closing third on debut behind TDN Rising Star and subsequent G2 Superlative S.-winning stablemate Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G3 Tyros S. third Would Be King (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) over seven furlongs at The Curragh July 2. It took 750,000 guineas–which was the third highest price of the day–for agent Peter Doyle to acquire him at Tattersalls October for a partnership between Mayfair Speculators's Markus Jooste and Coolmore, but that is just pricing for a colt of obvious Derby calibre on pedigree and looks. Sent off at 2-9 in this weak-looking maiden won 12 months earlier by the eventual G1 Irish Derby hero Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the blaze-faced bay tanked along in Seamie Heffernan's hands looking for meaningful competition in third initially. Set alight once straightened for home, he surged away in impressive fashion with a rare flourish and hit the line full of verve to score by 5 1/2 lengths from Crecerelle (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). “He's a decent horse and he did it well,” his jockey commented. “It was nice and easy and I couldn't be happier–he's just talented with plenty of ability.”
Amedeo Modigliani is the first foal out of the former Sir Mark Prescott-trained Gooseberry Fool who won a Kempton maiden before finishing third in the 2011 G3 Silver Flash S. behind the subsequent group 1 winners Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and La Collina (Ire) (Strategic Prince {GB}). Purchased by Greg Goodman's Mount Brilliant Farm for 440,000 guineas at that year's Tattersalls December Mare Sale, she is a daughter of one of Prescott's best in Last Second who captured the G2 Nassau S., G2 Sun Chariot S. and G3 C. L. Weld Park S. and was second in the G1 Coronation S. Her most accomplished progeny turned out to be the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and GI Shadwell Turf Mile-winning Aussie Rules who was by Danehill Dancer's sire, while her two black-type daughters who were also campaigned by Prescott were the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. winner and G3 May Hill S. and GII WinStar Galaxy S. runner-up Approach (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) and her dual listed-placed full-sister Intrigued (GB). Approach is now the dam of Galileo's Midas Touch (GB), the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial scorer who was second in the G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger and third in the G1 Underwood S., and also this year's G2 Ribblesdale S. winner and G1 Prix Saint-Alary third Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Intrigued produced another son of Galileo to place in the Leger in the Listed Cocked Hat S. winner Michelangelo (GB), who was third in the 2012 edition of the Doncaster Classic. The third dam Alruccaba has entered broodmare folklore, providing the source from which the group 1-winning distaffers Albanova (GB) (Alzao), Alborada (GB) (Alzao), Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) all sprang. Gooseberry Fool's 2016 colt is also by Galileo. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $15,137. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Mrs Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Markus Jooste; B-Mt Brilliant Broodmares II, Llc (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.
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