By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's G1 2000 Guineas second Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had been gelded since finishing seventh in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. last term and remained on target for Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne S. with a snug victory in Tuesday's G3 bet365 Earl of Sefton S. tackling nine furlongs at Newmarket. The 5-4 favourite, who annexed the 2020 G2 Superlative S. and this meeting's G3 Craven S. last year, was positioned in a handy fourth after a slick getaway. Inching closer once leaving the half-mile pole behind, he loomed large at the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out once gaining a narrow advantage entering the final furlong to account for Anthony Oppenheimer's G2 Dante S. runner-up and G3 Sovereign S. victor Megallan (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths in ultimately comfortable fashion.
“He has been a touch frustrating, but it is great to get him back today,” said Charlie Appleby after overseeing the 4-year-old's third win at this venue. “He was the class horse of the race and nine furlongs I felt was well within him. He always runs well here, first and foremost, and got caught flat footed when he ran [third] against Benbatl [in September's G2 Joel S.]. I thought this step up would suit him and, at the two pole, I was just hoping he would get that gap. William [Buick] thinks bringing him back to a mile is his gig as much as I felt the one mile one [furlong] would suit him. I was just pleased to see the horse get his head back in front and that will do his confidence good. If you asked me what race I'd like to work back from it would be the [G1] Queen Anne [at Royal Ascot] as he stays nine furlongs and that is a stiff mile there. We all know Ascot is an important part of our calendar and, in our team, he is a big player.”
Master of the Seas is the 10th of 12 foals and one of eight scorers produced by stakes-winning G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill). The March-foaled homebred bay is kin to a 2-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire) and to stakes-winning G1 St James's Palace S. runner-up Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}), G3 UAE Oaks victrix Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), the stakes-winning Etive (Elusive Quality) and Listed Navigation S. third Tipstaff (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}). Falls of Lora, in turn, is the dam of GI Summer S. hero Albahr (Dubawi {Ire}) and MG1SP G3 Doncaster Prelude winner Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The winner's dam Firth of Lorne is a daughter of GSW G1 1000 Guineas second Kerrera (Ire) (Diesis {GB}), who is a half-sister to MG1SP sire Rock City (Ire) (Ballad Rock {Ire}) and whose descendants include G1 Prix Jean Prat placegetter and G2 German 2000 Guineas-winning sire Pacino (GB) (Zafonic) and G2 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) and German 2000 Guineas hero Dupont (GB) (Zafonic).
Tuesday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 EARL OF SEFTON S.-G3, £80,000, Newmarket, 4-12, 4yo/up, 9fT, 1:49.60, gd.
1–MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Firth of Lorne (Ire) (SW & G1SP-Fr, MGSP-US, $163,189), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Kerrera (Ire), by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Rimosa's Pet (GB), by Petingo (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £45,368. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng & SP-UAE, 9-4-2-1, $293,947. *1/2 to Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), GSW-UAE & SW-Eng, $246,417; Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}), SW & G1SP-Eng, $217,472; Etive (Elusive Quality), SW-Ger & MSP-Fr, $126,693; and Tipstaff (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Megallan (GB), 126, c, 4, Kingman (GB)–Eastern Belle (GB), by Champs Elysees (GB). O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £17,200.
3–Brunch (GB), 126, g, 5, Harbour Watch (Ire)–Granola (GB), by Makfi (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (4,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Mrs Fiona Denniff; B-Denniff Farms Ltd (GB); T-Michael Dods. £8,608.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.25, 2.25, 12.00.
Also Ran: Bell Rock (GB), Father of Jazz (GB), Chichester (GB), Catch Twentytwo (SAf). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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