By Tom Frary
Seven years on from her dam Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) impressing on what would prove her career swansong in Newmarket's G2 Rockfel S., her daughter Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) cut a similar dash when dominating Friday's Shadwell-sponsored renewal. Only seventh in The Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud S. 12 days earlier, the TDN Rising Star who had previously taken the G3 Flame of Tara S. over a mile there Sept. 1 raced under restraint on the far rail tracking Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) throughout the early stages. Cajoled to that long-time leader approaching the furlong pole, the 7-2 second favourite quickly had her measure and readily asserted for an authoritative 1 3/4-length success from Dandhu (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}), with Main Edition 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “She's a filly I've always thought a lot of and she'll be nice next year,” Ryan Moore commented.
Just Wonderful's promise has been of a fleeting nature this term, first flouted in her beating of a pair of classy fillies in Lethal Promise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy) on debut over six furlongs at The Curragh May 26 and when upstaging her stable's Peach Tree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G3 Flame of Tara S. over a mile there Sept. 1. At other times, she has failed to deliver and while greenness may have caught her out when 14th behind Main Edition in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot June 22 there was no obvious excuse for her flat effort in the Moyglare. This smooth performance back on a fast surface not only underlines the merit of the form of the latter contest, but also re-casts her as a leading protagonist for next year's G1 1000 Guineas. Coolmore's Kevin Buckley said, “We are absolutely delighted with that. She did it very easy and Ryan thought he maybe got there a little bit too soon. She is a filly Aidan has clearly thought an awful lot about all along. It's nice to have a day like today. There was no real fall-out from the Moyglare. It was just a little disappointing run and she has clearly put that behind her today. Aidan will get her home and talk to the owners and see what they want to do. He'll also see how she is after this race, because she has been fairly active all season. She loved the track and really acted on it, which is nice for next year too.”
The race's surprise package was the Kempton scorer Dandhu, who got going late to pass all bar the clear-cut winner under Gerald Mosse. “She's a nice filly and she has just drifted into this level without any questions being asked,” trainer David Elsworth said. “I've not over-done her, so it was nice to see her run as well as she did and I feel she is improving. That will probably be the end of the season for her, but we'll see. She would have probably liked a bit more cut in the ground.” Mark Johnston said of the Albany and G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Main Edition, “Obviously we are disappointed to be third, but it is not the end of the world. Frankie came in and said he went a bit quick. He has beaten all the ones he can see, but he doesn't know what is going on behind. He said at the moment she gets the seven furlongs but only just gets it and that was the impression at the Curragh as well. We thought maybe on the faster ground she would get home, but she hasn't quite. She won't run again this year. We would still be hopeful she will get the mile of the 1000 Guineas because she will be a bigger, stronger horse next year.”
Ryan Moore was not Coolmore's number one jockey when Wading flashed her talent in this race, but his lofty regard for the filly he rode on that occasion sticks in the memory. She is a daughter of the operation's G3 Blue Wind S. runner-up Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert), one of the lesser lights thrown by the magisterial Urban Sea (Miswaki) who was still able to impart the dynasty's class to Wading's G1 Irish Oaks and G2 Ribblesdale S.-winning full-sister Bracelet (Ire) and this year's GI Belmont Oaks heroine Athena (Ire) by Montjeu's son Camelot (GB). Wading's 3-year-old colt Lost Treasure (Ire) (War Front) is a dual winner this term, while she also has a yearling full-brother to that useful sprinter and a foal by American Pharoah.
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
SHADWELL ROCKFEL S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 9-28, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:25.30, g/f.
1–JUST WONDERFUL, 126, f, 2, by Dansili (GB)
1st Dam: Wading (Ire) (GSW-Eng), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cherry Hinton (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £56,710. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 6-3-0-1, $148,341. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dandhu (GB), 126, f, 2, Dandy Man (Ire)–Poldhu (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (75,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Mrs A Coughlan & David Elsworth; B-Barton Bloodstock (GB); T-David Elsworth. £21,500.
3–Main Edition (Ire), 126, f, 2, Zoffany (Ire)–Maine Lobster, by Woodman. (62,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Saif Ali; B-Minch Bloodstock (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. £10,760.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1HF, 2. Odds: 3.50, 12.00, 1.85.
Also Ran: Model Guest (GB), Canton Queen (Ire), Dutch Treat (GB), California Love (GB), Yourtimeisnow (GB), Ajrar (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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