By Sean Cronin
Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa's homebred 2-year-old filly Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Sovereign Parade {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) backed up a July 30 debut victory at Newmarket's July course with a taking score in last month's G2 Rockfel S. and stepped forward to provide veteran rider Rab Havlin with a first Group 1 triumph in Friday's G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile back at the town's Rowley Mile venue.
The 8-13 favourite was alert from the traps and was positioned in a close-up sixth through the early stages. Tanking forward to go second with three furlongs remaining, she was stirred into action at the foot of the hill and quickened in style to take control with 100 yards remaining, en route to a one-length success from long-time leader Novakai (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), herself 4 3/4 lengths clear of 'TDN Rising Star' Bright Diamond (Ire) (El Kabeir) in third.
“She gave me a worrying moment going into the dip, when she got a bit unbalanced, but she took off once she hit the rising ground,” explained Havlin. “She is still some way from being the finished article mentally, but she got herself out of trouble and is quite intelligent. She has the tactical speed for a [1000] Guineas and also stays very well. Her mother only had two starts and I rode her on both occasions. Her second start was the [G2] Ribblesdale, when she was green, but she stayed on well so was going to be okay over a mile and a half. This filly has the right mind to get a bit of a trip.”
Reflecting on a career high of his own, the popular Scotsman added, “I'm feeling elated and I don't think it will sink in until I get home. I knew she had a hot chance, but they have still got to come here and do it. I just tried to fill my mind with different things and I didn't really think about it. Everyone was wishing me good luck, I had a plan in my head and changed that about three times before I went out there. I thought I will see what happens when I come out the stalls as I didn't want to be a prisoner to any plan. You feel a little bit of pressure, but once the stalls open everything goes out of your head. I had been riding her in the mornings and we knew she was pretty special.”
Joint-trainer Thady Gosden, whose father John claimed a record-equalling sixth victory in the contest, continued, “Rab is a huge part of the team at the yard. Everyone loves him and you couldn't get a better man. Everyone is thrilled for him to finally won a Group 1 and no one deserves it more.
“Last time the ground was a little bit better than today and when it is quick here they can hit a ridge or two then they become unbalanced and start hitting everyone. Rab got her very well balanced and luckily she stayed on up the hill and her class came through. She always showed the odd flash off talent at home, but you don't like to ask them too much there. She has always looked a nice filly going forward. When she ran at Newmarket we weren't quite expecting her to win as she did first time out. We thought she would run a nice race, but she put the afterburners on and stretched clear in the last furlong. The plan since then has been to achieve some group-race form which she has surpassed. She is obviously a filly that has got plenty of speed, being by Kingman, but her mother is by Galileo and she stayed well. We will have to see how she is in the spring and how she is training.”
Commissioning, half to a yearling colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus), is the second of three foals and lone performer produced by a winning full-sister to G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger hero Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Stanerra S.-winning G1 Irish Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares third Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Loughbrown S. victor Cypress Creek (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The April-foaled bay's second dam Dialafara (Fr) (Anabaa), herself a half-sister to G3 Prix de Conde runner-up Diaghan (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), is a daughter of G2 Prix de Malleret and G3 Prix de la Nonette victrix and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Diamilina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). Diamilina, in turn, is kin to four black-type performers headed by G3 Prix La Rochette winner and multiple Group 1-placed sire Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 FILLIES' MILE-G1, £528,750, Newmarket, 10-7, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:36.53, gd.
1–COMMISSIONING (GB), 128, f, 2, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Sovereign Parade (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Diamilina (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Isa Salman & Abdulla Al Khalifa (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Robert Havlin. £299,854. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $412,703. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Novakai (GB), 128, f, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Elasia (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (GB); T-Karl Burke. £113,681.
3–Bright Diamond (Ire), 128, f, 2, El Kabeir–Starlite Sienna (Ire), by Elusive Pimpernel. 'TDN Rising Star' 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€23,000 Ylg '21 GOFSPT; €52,000 2yo '22 TATGOR). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tom Molan (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £56,894.
Margins: 1, 4 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.62, 11.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Polly Pott (GB), Library (Ire), Sparkling Beauty (Fr), Alseyoob (Ire), Ferrari Queen (Ire).
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