By Sean Cronin
With Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) under wraps back at Ballydoyle, the Co. Tipperary outfit were able to enjoy a psychological boost ahead of the 2000 Guineas as Whitecliffsofdover made all to become the operation's second decisive trial winner this season. Much as stablemate Orderofthegarter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had at Leopardstown earlier in the month, last year's G3 Tattersalls S. runner-up and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third was committed on the front end from the outset and Ryan Moore's confidence paid off richly as he gradually placed his rivals under too much pressure. This looked a fair renewal of the European Free, with Rodaini and TDN Rising Star Seven Heavens setting a decent benchmark for the winner, who had Thursday's G3 Craven S. hopeful Larchmont Lad (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) in front in the Tattersall before finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) at Chantilly.
Whitecliffsofdover was looking well worth his price tag here and opportunities in America are bound to be plentiful for the half-brother to the 2014 GI Beldame S. third Endless Chatter (First Samurai). Like the GII Blue Grass S. and GII Fountain of Youth S.-winning sire Pulpit he is out of the GI Frizette S. heroine Preach, with the third dam being the GIII Falls City H. scorer Narrate, a half to the sire Announce. Under her is the G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Phoenix S.-winning Minardi, who was also third in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, and the GII King's Bishop S.-winning half-brother and successfu sire Tale of the Cat. The dam also has a 2-year-old filly by Speightstown named Spiel and a foal full-sister to the winner.
BET365 EUROPEAN FREE H.-Listed, £37,000, NEW, 4-19, 3yo, 7fT, 1:24.68, g/f.
1–#WHITECLIFFSOFDOVER, 133, c, 3, by War Front">War Front
1st Dam: Orate, by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Preach, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Narrate, by Honest Pleasure
($1,150,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Claiborne Farm (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £20,983. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr & GSP-Eng, 5-2-1-1, $97,307. *1/2 to Endless Chatter (First Samurai), SW & GISP-US, $221,652.
2–Rodaini, 131, c, 3, Exchange Rate–Blessings Count, by Pulpit. ($140,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; 340,000gns 2yo '16 TATBRE). O-Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah. £7,955.
3–Seven Heavens (GB), 133, c, 3, Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)–Heaven Sent (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (620,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Khalid Abdullah. £3,981.
Margins: 2 3/4, HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.30, 8.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: Private Matter (GB), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Majeste (GB), Miss Infinity (Ire). Scratched: Perfect Angel (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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