By Tom Frary
Leaving it late on debut when scoring over an extended five furlongs at Newbury Apr. 16, Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was again one of the last on the scene as he swooped to conquer in Tuesday's G2 Coventry S. First time up, the winner had spotted subsequent TDN Rising Star Gisburn (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) several lengths headstart with his tardy break before showing his class. With the strong tempo in part carved out by Gregory Kaufman's Kaufymaker (Jimmy Creed) and this more suitable trip to aid him, he was always likely to find a more even rhythm despite being a touch slowly away drawn like Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) closest to the stand's side. Keen for a few strides before settling for Oisin Murphy towards the back, the 11-1 shot was delivered to reel in the 25-1 shot Vintage Clarets (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) with half a furlong remaining and assert for a 1 1/4-length success. It was the 66-1 outsider Eldrickjones (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) who snuck a neck ahead of Vintage Clarets at the line. “He's a special horse who was bought inexpensively by Andrew and his mother,” the winning rider said. “It was an incredible performance on his second start and he looks a big immature horse, so he has a very good future.”
Bred by Cheveley Park Stud, the rare bargain by Dark Angel Berkshire Shadow is one of those who will make the movers and shakers at the public auctions place their heads in their hands. His remarkable price tag is all the more so given that he is a grandson of Ballymacoll's brilliant Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), with the useful dam Angel Vision (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) having won a Newmarket handicap and finished under four-lengths sixth in the same silks in the G3 Atalanta S. Officially rated the best of all foals produced by the four-times group and grade I-winning Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf champion, she was bought by Cheveley Park for 600,000gns out of the Ballymacoll dispersal at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Berkshire Shadow's owner Paul Spickett, whose colours are also carried by last year's G1 St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}), is not anywhere near that league but he has at least temporarily moved into a different sphere with this result. “From 12 years old, I wanted horses so it's a brilliant day,” he said. “To be told seven years ago that I'd even have an Ascot runner would be more than enough, but to have a winner is unbelievable. He was bought for my wife, who loves greys, but we were worried he was a bit too cheap being a Dark Angel. Luckily, too cheap was good enough!”
Berkshire Shadow's second dam is another of the Weinstocks' illustrious performers in Hellenic (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who landed the G1 Yorkshire Oaks that Islington was to win twice and the G2 Ribblesdale S. at this meeting as well as finishing runner-up in G1 St Leger. Her five stakes winners include Islington's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis-winning full-brother Greek Dance (Ire) and the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Mountain High (Ire) (Danehill). Islington's Green Desert half-sister Desert Beauty, who was third in the Listed Ben Marshall S., is the second dam of the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £100,000, Ascot, 6-15, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.55, g/f.
1–BERKSHIRE SHADOW (GB), 127, c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Angel Vision (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Islington (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Hellenic (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (40,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £59,200. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $89,386. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Eldrickjones (Ire), 127, c, 2, Cotai Glory (GB)–Dream Impossible (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB). (£10,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY; £26,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Nick Bradley Racing 42, Salthouse & Partner; B-D J Maher (IRE); T-Roger Fell. £22,390.
3–Vintage Clarets (GB), 127, c, 2, Ardad (Ire)–Enchanted Princess (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). (£20,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-A Tattersall & Partner; B-M E Broughton (GB); T-Richard Fahey. £11,190.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NK. Odds: 11.00, 66.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Masseto (GB), Ebro River (Ire), Dhabab (Ire), Caturra (Ire), Kaufymaker, The Acropolis (Ire), Tolstoy (Ire), Dashing Rat (GB), The Organiser (GB), Angel Bleu (Fr), The Gatekeeper (Ire), Gisburn (Ire), Golden War (GB), Secret Strength (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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