By Sean Cronin
MINDING UNTROUBLED IN NAAS RETURN
European highweight distaffer as a juvenile and Europe's leading sophomore off the back of five Group 1 wins last term, Derrick Smith's Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) duly landed prohibitive odds of 1-3 with an uncomplicated seasonal return in Monday's G2 Mooresbridge S. at Naas. The 4-year-old bay, coming back from a game win in Ascot's Oct. 15 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., asserted for control after the initial strides and soon held a two-length buffer racing under a firm grip. Allowed a breather by Ryan Moore at the end of the back straight, she was nudged along approaching the final furlong and pushed clear in the closing stages to easily account for Moonlight Magic (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) by 3 1/2 lengths. Useful yardstick Brendan Brackan (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) was two lengths further adrift in third.
Monday, Naas, Ireland
CAMELOT IRISH EBF MOORESBRIDGE S.-G2, €130,000, NAA, 5-1, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:12.80, g/f.
1–MINDING (IRE), 129, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & Ire, $1,361,940), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Hiwaayati (GB), by Shadeed
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £656,432. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. 3yo-Ire & Eng at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur & Ire, MG1SW-Ire & Eng, 13-9-3-1, $3,213,340. *Full to Kissed by Angels (Ire), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Moonlight Magic (GB), 129, c, 4, Cape Cross (Ire)–Melikah (Ire), by Lammtarra. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Jim Bolger. €24,700.
3–Brendan Brackan (Ire), 129, g, 8, Big Bad Bob (Ire)–Abeyr (GB), by Unfuwain. (€4,000 RNA Ylg '10 TATFLT; 145,000gns HRA '14 TAJUL). O-David Spratt & Sean Jones; B-Anamoine Ltd (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €11,700.
Margins: 3HF, 2, 3/4. Odds: 0.30, 6.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Johannes Vermeer (Ire). Scratched: Jaqen H'Ghar (Ire).
“We're delighted to get her started back and it's nice to get her going again,” commented trainer Aidan O'Brien. “She has the options of the [May 28 G1] Tattersalls [Gold Cup at The Curragh] or the [May 20 G1] Lockinge S. at Newbury. We'll probably be looking at the Tattersalls and I imagine that's where we'll go. We'll take it one [race] at a time, but we'd also be thinking of the [June 21 G1] Prince of Wales's S. at [Royal] Ascot. She's a great filly and what she done last year was incredible. To go right back to a mile at the end [of the season in the Queen Elizabeth II S.], it's very rare a horse can do that over a mile, a mile-and-a-quarter and a mile-and-a-half. She's very enthusiastic and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with her. She's done well physically and has changed into a 4-year-old.”
Minding–who also annexed last year's G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Pretty Polly S. and G1 Nassau S.–is the leading performer out of G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and is a full-sister to G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial victress Kissed By Angels (Ire). She is also a full-sister to the 3-year-old filly How (Ire), the unraced 2-year-old filly Conquest (Ire) and a yearling filly. Lillie Langtry's siblings include stakes-winning GIII Autimn Miss S. second Danilovna (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and MGSP Listed Celebration S. winner Count of Limonade (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), and she is also a half to the dam of G3 Classic Trial victor Master Apprentice (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Lillie Langtry also shares her unraced second dam Hiwaayati (GB) (Shadeed), herself a half to MGSW sires Great Commotion (Nureyev) and Lead On Time (Nureyev), with stakes-winning G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Winged Cupid (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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