By Tom Frary
Labelled a TDN Rising Star on his winning debut at Sandown Sept. 15, Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) got Godolphin and Charlie Appleby's Future Champions Day at Newmarket off to a flyer on Saturday as he mastered Unconquerable (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and stablemate Hafit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a thrilling finale to the 10-furlong G3 Godolphin Flying Start Zetland S. Unable to gain extra experience following his debut 6 1/2-length romp when withdrawn from Epsom's Cazoo Derby “Wild Card” EBF Conditions S. after becoming upset in the stalls, Goldspur put that behind him here to travel sweetly for James Doyle away from the 6-4 favourite Hafit as the pair led the way. With Unconquerable joining in two out, they were in line with the lead swapped between them but near the line it was the 5-2 second favourite who gave extra to beat the Irish challenger by a head, with Hafit only a short head behind. “It felt as if he had improved since Sandown and there was no real second to him that day, but that form had taken a couple of knocks since and he'd had that minor mishap at Epsom in between,” the winning rider said. “Today, he was foot-perfect and travelled really well–those other horses had the advantage of experience over him and probably ran straighter down into the 'dip', so to finish off best is pleasing.”
Doyle revealed that Goldspur had been hard for Charlie Appleby and William Buick to weigh up at home. “He's been difficult to assess and when they galloped together Hafit was far better. Charlie didn't expect what he did at Sandown, as he hadn't shown that at home but that's not a bad way to be. For a big fellow, he's going to be versatile I think regards to the ground. It's still a little bit dead here, but he's a good mover. He actually travelled best of the three, but wobbled under pressure in the dip and then got going again when he met the rising ground. He's a big relentless galloper who clearly sleeps at home.”
Appleby added, “Full credit to Jerry and Tom and the team back at home; they've done a great job with this horse. He's a nice homebred with a nice staying page. He's only come of late and it's all about next year with him. We'll start off with some of the trials in the spring maybe. I think that he could make up into a Derby horse, as he has definitely got the page for it and he has done nothing wrong at the moment apart from one little blip which has been ironed out.”
Donnacha O'Brien said of the runner-up, who was advertising the form of the Sept. 25 G2 Royal Lodge S. in which he was third last time, “He ran a cracker and is still learning. He's a big horse and there is a bit of improvement in him as well. We could look at the 10-furlong race in France [the Oct. 23 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud] next time–it didn't look like he was stopping there and he's a big tough horse who is clear-winded so usually when they have those qualities they go on any ground.”
Goldspur is the fourth foal out of the talented G2 Lanchashire Oaks and G3 Prix Minerve winner Pomology (Arch), who was also runner-up in the G1 Prix Vermeille. She is kin to the Listed Garrowby S. winner Tommy Taylor (Mizzen Mast) and the GI Just a Game S. and GI American Oaks runner-up Sassy Little Lila (Artie Schiller). This is also the family of the GI Turf Classic Invitational-winning sire Apple Tree (Fr) and the G3 Prix de Royaumont runner-up American Apples (Fr) (American Post {GB}). Pomology's filly foal is by Night of Thunder (Ire).
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
GODOLPHIN FLYING START ZETLAND S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-9, 2yo, 10fT, 2:05.76, gd.
1–GOLDSPUR (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Pomology (Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 11-14f, GSW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Fr, $258,749), by Arch
2nd Dam: Sharp Apple, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Top Apple (Fr), by Top Ville (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $53,793. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Unconquerable (Ire), 128, c, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Rien Ne Vas Plus (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (210,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Atlantic Thoroughbreds; B-Rien Ne Vas Plus Syndicate (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. £12,900.
3–Hafit (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Cushion (GB), by Galileo (Ire). (2,100,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Floors Farming & Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £6,456.
Margins: HD, NO, 3 1/4. Odds: 2.50, 5.00, 1.50.
Also Ran: Bluegrass (Ire), Berkshire Rebel (Ire), Dukebox (Ire), Knight Rider (Ire), Foden (GB), Fourshadesofsilver (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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