By Tom Frary
Bouncing back from her disappointing effort in the G3 Musidora Stakes, George Strawbridge's Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}–In Clover {GB}, by Inchinor {GB}) relished the drop to a mile to boss Ascot's G3 Longines Valiant Stakes on Saturday. Only seventh in that York Oaks trial in May, the homebred half-sister to the group 1 winners With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) who had previously impressed when taking Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes earlier that month was soon in front under Kieran Shoemark.
Extending her advantage in the final furlong, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 100-30 second favourite hit the line strong with three lengths to spare over the 4-year-old Doom (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). “We were thinking Prix de Diane, but she was drawn wide at York and when she saw the stables on the right she cocked her jaw–she is a strong-willed lady and so that explains that,” John Gosden said. “We did a lot of checking her out as well and couldn't find anything wrong and gave her lots of time off, as she is still an immature filly and she has done it in good style.”
“She is the type of filly who will get better as the year goes on and she will be a lovely filly next year,” he added. “That is a stiff mile and it rises a lot and I think a mile and a quarter is her proper trip–I wouldn't want to go a mile and a half.”
Friendly Soul rockets home!
A cracker of a ride from @KShoemark from the front to grab the Valiant Stakes at @Ascot… pic.twitter.com/YI622xtrYy
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 27, 2024
Pedigree Notes
As mentioned above, Friendly Soul is a half to the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine We Are, her G1 Prix Rothschild-winning full-sister With You and the G1 Prix du Cadran hero Call The Wind, with the G3 Prix de Flore-winning dam In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) also responsible for three other black-type performers including the listed scorer Incahoots (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who in turn produced last year's G1 Prix de la Foret and G2 Prix de Sandringham heroine Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
Also connected to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary-placed Queen Trezy (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), the G1 Hong Kong Vase-winning champion stayer Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}), the G2 Lennox Stakes-winning sire Es Que Love (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) and the G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Friendly Soul is In Clover's last foal.
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
LONGINES VALIANT STAKES-G3, £85,000, Ascot, 7-27, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f 213yT, 1:40.21, g/f.
1–FRIENDLY SOUL (GB), 123, f, 3, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: In Clover (GB) (GSW-Fr, $222,716), by Inchinor (GB)
2nd Dam: Bellarida (Fr), by Bellypha (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lerida (Fr), by Riverman
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Kieran Shoemark. £48,204. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $109,097. *1/2 to In Crowd (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Fr, $184,336; 1/2 to Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G1SW-Fr, GSP-UAE, $2,300,685; 1/2 to We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), G1SW-Fr, $437,651; 1/2 to Dream Clover (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), MSW & GSP-Fr, $163,406; 1/2 to With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), G1SW-Fr, $640,753. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Doom (GB), 131, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Dank (GB), by Dansili (GB). O/B-James Wigan (GB); T-William Haggas. £18,275.
3–Naomi Lapaglia (GB), 131, f, 4, Awtaad (Ire)–Hawaafez (GB), by Nayef. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (2,000gns Ylg '21 TADEY; 110,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRG). O-Edward Babington & Phil Cunningham; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Richard Spencer. £9,146.
Margins: 3, NK, HD. Odds: 3.30, 7.50, 16.00.
Also Ran: Soprano (Ire), Julia Augusta (GB), Sirona (Ger), Thornbrook (Ire), Devoted Queen (GB).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
