Beaten out of sight by A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in last month's G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly, My Dream Boat (Ire) (Lord Shanakill) went postward as the unconsidered outsider-of-six for Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot, but turned previous form on its head with a game neck defeat of 'TDN Rising Star' Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to add lustre to jockey Adam Kirby's fantasy week. The bay had been elevated from handicap ranks to annex Chantilly's Listed Prix du Ranelagh last term and continued his win streak in the Nov. 1 Prix Perth and Apr. 22 G3 Gordon Richards S. before his latest reversal. Patiently ridden in fifth as A Shin Hikari set the tempo, he drifted wide as Found got the best of a four-way tussle towards the inner approaching the final eighth and kept on resolutely under a power drive to claim a career high on the nod. Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) proved best of the remainder, finishing 3 1/2 lengths further adrift in third as 8-13 favourite faded late to finish last of six.
“He gave me a really good feel when he won [at Sandown] two starts ago where he settled and picked up good,” explained Kirby. “Things didn't go right for him last time as he raced too freely and didn't finish off his race. He settled well today and finished off the race really well. He didn't want to get involved with Found and got a bit lonely out there on his own, but at least he held on.”
Trainer Clive Cox, adding to his and Kirby's G1 King's Stand win with Profitable the day before, added, “He looked special when he won the [G3] Gordon Richards [at Sandown], but when we took him to France he was tracked back in the field and things didn't go quite right. He got into a nice rhythm and I'm very proud of him. Adam's riding out of his skin at the minute and is on a high professionally and personally. The horses are running amazingly, it feels like a dream.”
Runner-up Found has now raced four times in Britain, and finished second in all four of those top-level starts. Reflecting on her latest performance, trainer Aidan O'Brien commented, “Once again, she ran very well and Ryan was very happy with her. She quickened well, but that's racing.”
John Gosden indicated the July 2 G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown is on the agenda for third-placed Western Hymn.
Jockey Yutaka Take held an extended post-race court explaining factors in the undoing of the world's highest-rated thoroughbred, so it was left to Hirotsugu Hirai, representing owners Eishindo Company Ltd, to reflect on A Shin Hikari's defeat. “We knew it was not going to be easy as it was his first time round a bend this sharp, which was was a surprise to him. The turf was very soft, like a luxurious carpet, but it didn't suit him. After the race the horse was fine, but we are upset.”
The winner, whose family includes G1 Coronation S.-winning multiple highweight Golden Opinion (Slew o' Gold) and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and GI Garden City S victress Samitar (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), is a half-brother to a yearling colt by Elnadim.
Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES'S S.-G1, £750,000, ASC, 6-15, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:11.38, sf.
1–&MY DREAM BOAT (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Lord Shanakill
1st Dam: Betty Burke (GB), by Choisir (Aus)
2nd Dam: Island Lover (Ire), by Turtle Island (Ire)
3rd Dam: Loveliest, by Tibaldo
(€4,000 Ylg '13 GOFFEB; €16,000 Ylg '13 GOFSPT; £40,000 2yo '14 DONBRE). O-Paul & Clare Rooney; B-Patrick Monahan (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. £425,325. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 14-6-3-0, $803,926. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”itm-g1″]2–Found (Ire), 123, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab.
'TDN Rising Star' O-Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Roncon, Wynatt &
Chelston (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £161,250.
[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Western Hymn (GB), 126, g, 5, High Chaparral (Ire)–Blue Rhapsody (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (50,000gns Ylg '12 TAOCT). O-R J H Geffen and Rachel Hood; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. £80,700.
[bullet ad=”blandford-bloodstock-purchased-by-2″]Margins: NK, 3HF, 3/4. Odds: 16.00, 4.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: The Grey Gatsby (Ire), Tryster (Ire), A Shin Hikari (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
