By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's homebred Quorto (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) followed up a 'TDN Rising Star' display tackling six furlongs at Newmarket in his June 22 debut with an impressive tally upped one panel in the July 14 G2 Superlative S. back at that venue last time. Usurping the Ballydoyle battalion for favouritism in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh, the bay showed his mettle to emulate his sire's 2004 success and register a career high in battling fashion. Handily placed in third after breaking alertly from the outside gate, the crowd's 11-8 choice was shaken up to challenge at the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly under forceful urging in the closing stages to hold the late rally of 6-4 market rival Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a half length, himself clear of stablemates Christmas (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Mohawk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never). “We were very confident coming here today and full credit to the team at home,” said in-form trainer Charlie Appleby. “He's a typical Dubawi and we went through that stage from the Superlative to here where he went a little bit quiet on us and needed all of that time. I've probably got the most experience with Dubawis–they go through that patch, but in the last 10 days he's really come back to where he was before the Superlative. It was just a matter of seeing where we were and I feel he's put himself there as a contender for the [G1 2000] Guineas next year. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was straight on the phone afterwards and delighted with the result.” Turning to future options, the Newmarket-based conditioner continued, “I'm sure we'll be looking towards the [Oct. 12 G1] Dewhurst [S. at Newmarket]. There's a lot of stamina on the dam's side and I'd say a mile was his trip and a mile-and-a-quarter might be his maximum. He's an exciting horse and the Dewhurst is the most logical route, but I'll flag up that he is Dubawi's first Group 1-winning 2-year-old colt. If we needed to put him away for the winter now that wouldn't worry me and we can live the dream until the spring.” Aidan O'Brien was satisfied with the effort of G2 Futurity S. victor and runner-up Anthony Van Dyck and commented, “We always thought that he'd want to step up to a mile and it was only because he won the Futurity so well that we stayed at seven [furlongs]. The winner is a very good colt, but we were delighted with the run. He'll handle better ground and will be very comfortable on better ground. He was really coming again at the line and he'd be very comfortable stepping up in trip if he needs to.”
Quorto is the only foal out of stakes-winning G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks placegetter Volume (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), herself a half-sister to G3 JRA Cup third Velox (GB) (Zamindar). His third dam, G1 Prix du Cadran-winning European highweight stayer Victoire Bleue (GB) (Legend of France), produced G1 St Leger runner-up and MGSW sire Vertical Speed (Fr) (Bering {GB}) and G2 Prix Hocquart runner-up Vanishing World (Fr) (Bering {GB}).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT O'BRIEN NATIONAL S.-G1, €350,000, Curragh, 9-16, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.81, g/y.
1–QUORTO (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Volume (GB) (SW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $210,078), by Mount Nelson (GB)
2nd Dam: Victoire Finale (GB), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Victoire Bleue (GB), by Legend of France
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €199,500. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 3-3-0-0, $298,751. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Anthony Van Dyck (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Believe'n'succeed (Aus), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €70,000.
3–Christmas (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Christmas Kid, by Lemon Drop Kid. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Christmas Kid Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €35,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 4HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.35, 1.50, 9.00.
Also Ran: Mohawk (Ire), Land Force (Ire), Highland Fortune, Wargrave (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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