Aidan O'Brien had warned that Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) might be in jeopardy off a break with Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in attendance and his warning proved well-founded as the July 16 G1 Irish Oaks winner upstaged her Ballydoyle companion in Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. While the pair were in line for the most part, fitness told from two furlongs down as Colm O'Donoghue elicited the same dynamic response that had been evident at the end of the Curragh Classic and that was the telling factor. At the line, there was 2 3/4 lengths separating the stable companions, with the field strung out behind and the third Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) the only British representative denying an Irish whitewash. “She was a Classic filly getting allowances off the older fillies, so we took advantage of it,” O'Donoghue said. “She has a great temperament and is tough and genuine with a beautiful action.”
Other than her sixth placing, beaten 33 lengths, in the G1 Epsom Oaks where she reportedly failed to handle the track, Seventh Heaven has a progressive profile this season with wins in a mile maiden at Dundalk Apr. 18 and the May 7 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial preceding her dominating Irish Oaks performance. As in that contest, it was the stable's smart and reliable pacemaker Pretty Perfect (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who set the required tempo and Colm O'Donoghue was content to take back and anchor the eventual winner towards the rear with Found just ahead. As they crept closer turning for home, Seamie Heffernan looked to have plenty in hand as Found ran into a pocket up ahead tracking the smooth-travelling Queen's Trust. Seventh Heaven needed some encouragement to engage another gear, but when the whip was applied she took control fairly instantly with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining as Found looked to deliver her challenge around the Stoute runner. Gone beyond recall soon after, Seventh Heaven was strong to the line with Found putting in a respectable return effort with major autumn targets ahead.
Aidan O'Brien was understandably delighted with the outcome, which came as no surprise to all converned. “The winner came forward lovely from the Curragh and Seamus's filly [Found] was just ready to start and she got a little bit tired,” he said. “They are smashing fillies and they have a lot of options. Seventh Heaven is a beautiful traveller and a massive, rangy filly who handles fast ground very well and has plenty of class and I'd say she's going to make a real 4-year-old. The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is there for her, whereas Found's plan was to go to Leopardstown and then to the Arc, but we'll see. Because Seventh Heaven wants nice ground, we're more guaranteed to get that in America than at Ascot but as Champions Day is run on the inside course this year that could all change. The lads will see the horses run at the weekend and the pattern should become apparent after that.” Chris Richardson, managing director for Cheveley Park Stud, said of Queen's Trust, “It was no disgrace to finish third to those two fillies–a Classic winner and a Breeders' Cup winner. Michael said she seems to be effective over that trip as well as over 10 furlongs. We'll see how she comes out of the race and then see what to do. There are options abroad we may consider, but she will only get better.”
Seventh Heaven is a half-sister to the 2011 G1 Middle Park S. hero Crusade and also the smart Cristoforo Colombo, who was third in the G2 Coventry S. and runner-up in the G2 Railway S. before suffering an unseat during the G1 Phoenix S. The GIII Victory Ride S.-winning dam La Traviata emanates from Piedras Negras, a half-sister to the dual group scorer Jack Sullivan (Belong To Me) and they descend from Novara (Dance Spell), a half to the GI Secretariat S. and GI Rothmans International S.-winning Southjet (Northjet {Ire}). La Traviata also has a yearling full-brother to come.
Thursday, York, Britain
DARLEY YORKSHIRE OAKS-G1, £365,750, YOR, 8-18, 3yo/up, f, 12fT, 2:28.50, g/f.
1–SEVENTH HEAVEN (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: La Traviata (GSW-US, $129,248), by Johannesburg
2nd Dam: Piedras Negras, by Unbridled
3rd Dam: Provisions, by Devil's Bag
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-La Traviata Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Colm O'Donoghue. £207,417. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-0, $572,350. *1/2 to Crusade (Mr. Greeley), GSW-Eng, $164,123; and Cristoforo Colombo (Henrythenavigator), GSP-Eng & Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Found (Ire), 133, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Roncon, Wynatt & Chelston (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £78,636.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Queen's Trust (GB), 123, f, 3, Dansili (GB)–Queen's Best (GB), by King's Best. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £39,355.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, 5. Odds: 3.30, 2.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Pretty Perfect (Ire), Turret Rocks (Ire), Furia Cruzada (Chi), Even Song (Ire), Loving Things (GB), Endless Time (Ire), Koora (GB), Harlequeen (GB), Fireglow (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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