By Tom Frary
Coming into Saturday's Listed John Smith's City Walls S. at York with just two starts under her belt, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) belied inexperience to put older rivals to the sword under Andrea Atzeni. Last seen winning a Bath novice over this five-furlong trip June 11, the James Tate-trained 3-year-old who had Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) back in third on her sole juvenile start at Newcastle last May enjoyed an ideal lead from last year's G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Let loose two out, the 11-4 joint-favourite drew away to score by two lengths from the respected sprinter Mondammej (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). “The Nunthorpe is the only race on my mind,” Tate said. “We've no idea how good she is, but I'm looking forward out finding out.”
“Royal Aclaim is the real deal!”
Three starts, three wins now for Royal Aclaim as James Tate's filly lands the Listed John Smith's City Walls Stakes in some style at @yorkracecourse @Atzenijockey pic.twitter.com/QV8yloYPRb
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 9, 2022
“We spend all our lives looking for something a bit special and I knew I had it after she won at Newcastle last year, beating Perfect Power. She did a piece of work getting ready for the Queen Mary and I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought, 'oh my god. This is it'. Unfortunately she had a setback and she couldn't reappear until this year, but she's been worth waiting for. I think this is the fastest horse I've ever trained. She'd only been to little meetings, she had to walk across the course, she had to see all these people cheering, she's taken it all in her stride. She's just done it so well.”
Royal Aclaim is out of the G3 Ballyogan S.-placed Knock Stars (Ire) (Soviet Star), a relative of the Listed Salsabil S. winner and multiple group-placed Indiana Gal (Ire) (Intikhab) who is in turn the dam of the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S.-winning Japanese champion juvenile Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Knock Stars also has the unraced 2-year-old colt Pop Star (Ire) (Sioux Nation), a 215,000gns Book 2 purchase by M V Magnier who now resides at Ballydoyle, and a yearling colt by the same sire.
JOHN SMITHS CITY WALLS S.-Listed, £60,000, York, 7-9, 3yo/up, 5fT, :57.72, g/f.
1–ROYAL ACLAIM (IRE), 117, f, 3, Aclaim (Ire)–Knock Stars (Ire) (GSP-Ire, $157,076), by Soviet Star.
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (60,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRG). O-Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-James Tate; J-Andrea Atzeni. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $55,231.
2–Mondammej (GB), 127, g, 5, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Lamps Of Heaven (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (90,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA; 325,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT; 4,000gns HRA '20 TATHRA). O-Mrs C Brittain; B-Chasemore Farm (GB); T-Antony Brittain. £12,900.
3–Korker (Ire), 122, g, 3, Dandy Man (Ire)–Adaptation (GB), by Spectrum (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. (£50,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Fine Claret Racing & More Turf Racing; B-Ballyhane Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £6,456.
Margins: 2, HF, NK. Odds: 2.75, 22.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Makanah (GB), Justanotherbottle (Ire), Winter Power (Ire), Atalis Bay (GB), Caturra (Ire), Chocquinto (Ire), City Walk (Ire).
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