By Tom Frary
We already knew we were dealing with an Oaks filly in Juddmonte's Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) prior to Sunday's Listed William Hill Pretty Polly S. at Newmarket, but now we have another after George Strawbridge's Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}–In Clover {GB}), by Inchinor {GB}) took her measure in an epic renewal of the 10-furlong Classic trial. To the fore soon after the start under Kieran Shoemark, the 10-1 shot who scored on debut at Kempton in December had everything on the stretch bar that 4-6 favourite heading to the final two furlongs and they went on to make it a match to the line. Despite the effort of the eventual runner-up, it was Friendly Soul who had more to give to provide the Gosdens with another major Oaks contender. At the line, there was 1 1/4 lengths between the homebred half-sister to the group 1 winners With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and Kalpana, who in turn had a huge 12-length margin to spare over the third Kitteridge (GB) (Camelot {GB}).
“She's a big, scopey filly and very fresh, but she couldn't have impressed me any more,” Shoemark said. “She has a big stride and I let her use herself and she quickened up nicely. She was getting lonely in front and so it helped me when Oisin [Murphy] came to me and she was well on top at the line. She's really one to look forward to and is obviously going to improve off that fitness-wise. She's by Kingman and while I'm sure a mile and a half won't be an issue in time, possibly the Diane might be for her.”
John Gosden was in agreement with Shoemark afterwards. “I think it was a good race, I was impressed with the second when she won here at the Craven meeting so I think it was solid,” he said. “I think she is a lovely filly and I think she's a mile-and-a-quarter filly. She might be a filly for a visit to Chantilly.”
“We've had a slow Spring, it's been very wet and cold so I haven't been in a hurry with the horses. We hope that May is really the time they'll start to come to themselves. Kieran has waited quietly and we gave him some rides last year. He rode for me as a schoolkid, he used to come in the holidays to ride out, and has always been very natural. I've known him for many years, he's a very talented rider with superb hands and a good judge. He's bright and intelligent and a good horseman.”
Alongside the aforementioned G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine We Are, G1 Prix Rothschild winner With You and G1 Prix du Cadran hero Call The Wind, In Clover who was successful in the G3 Prix de Flore and Listed Prix de Lieurey also produced the dual listed scorer and G3 Prix de Lieurey-placed Dream Clover (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and two other listed scorers including Oasis Dream's Incahoots (GB) who in turn produced the G1 Prix de la Foret and G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Kelina (Ire) also by Frankel.
Also the second dam of Dansili's Listed Prix Panacee winner Elodie (GB) and Queen Trezy (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), who was placed in four group races including the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, In Clover is the third dam of the G2 Prix de Malleret third Yorokobi (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) so we are talking about a special broodmare. She is out of the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Ire}) from the family of the G1 Hong Kong Vase hero Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}). Friendly Soul is her last known foal.
These two pull a LONG way clear… 👀
FRIENDLY SOUL denies the odds-on favourite on just her second start for Kieran Shoemark and John & Thady Gosden in the William Hill Pretty Polly Stakes pic.twitter.com/OFu3RmuO3N
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) May 5, 2024
WILLIAM HILL PRETTY POLLY S.-Listed, £60,000, Newmarket, 5-5, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:03.22, gd.
1–FRIENDLY SOUL (GB), 128, f, 3, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: In Clover (GB) (GSW-Fr, $222,716), by Inchinor (GB)
2nd Dam: Bellarida (Fr), by Bellypha (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lerida (Fr), by Riverman
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Kieran Shoemark. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $47,364. *1/2 to In Crowd (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Fr, $184,336; 1/2 to Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G1SW-Fr, GSP-UAE, $2,300,685; 1/2 to We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), G1SW-Fr, $437,651; 1/2 to Dream Clover (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), MSW & GSP-Fr, $163,406; 1/2 to With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), G1SW-Fr, $640,753.
2–Kalpana (GB), 128, f, 3, Study Of Man (Ire)–Zero Gravity (GB), by Dansili (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £12,900.
3–Kitteridge (GB), 128, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Formidable Kitt (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Chasemore Farm (GB); T-Hugo Palmer. £6,456.
Margins: 1 1/4, 12, 2HF. Odds: 10.00, 0.67, 22.00.
Also Ran: Strutting (GB), Lunar Eclipse (Ire), Winter Snowfall (GB), Carolina Reaper (GB), Gray's Inn (Ire).
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