By Tom Frary
Sunday's five-furlong Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Newmarket looked by far the most intriguing 2-year-old race staged in this country so far in 2024 and the outcome did not disappoint as Godolphin's Charlie Appleby-trained Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Lava Flow {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) justified 7-4 favouritism to earn TDN Rising Star status. A half-sister to her stable's juvenile champion Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), the chestnut who had only turned two at the start of the month broke smartly and had an ideal target ahead in the Karl Burke-trained River Seine (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}).
Subduing that daughter of the celebrity Indian Ink (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) at the furlong pole, she drew away with relish up the rising ground to score impressively by 2 3/4 lengths. There was a head back to the Hannon runner Miss Collada (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) in a race that will need close monitoring as Royal Ascot nears. “She is a very straightforward and professional filly and pulled away from them, which is nice to see,” William Buick said. “I think she wants six now, so that's where her immediate future lies and I'd expect her to get further too.”
Appleby added, “We came here with plenty of confidence, as her homework had been good and we were hoping that she'd do what she did. Will said it was her class that got her through, as she hated every bit of the track. He just held on to her and he said once he levelled off she was always going to pick up and she did that well. She's probably just booked her ticket to Ascot, we're looking towards the [six-furlong G3] Albany and I might give her another spin beforehand, just for a bit of experience more than anything.”
Pedigree Notes
Mountain Breeze, whose celebrated half-sibling is by Lope De Vega's sire Shamardal, is also kin to the Listed Grand Prix de Marseille winner and G3 Grand Prix de Vichy and G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon runner-up Sundoro (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The listed-winning dam Lava Flow is a half to the G1 Gran Criterium runner-up Strobilus (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), while the third dam El Jazirah (GB) (Kris {GB}) is kin to the G3 Blandford S. winner Chiang Mai (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) who in turn produced the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Chinese White (Ire) from a mating with Lava Flow's sire Dalakhani. The fourth dam is the high-class producer Eljazzi (GB) (Artaius), whose G1 Prix de Diane-winning daughter Rafha (GB) also by Kris was responsible for Green Desert's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero and leading sire Invincible Spirit (Ire). Lava Flow's yearling colt is by Blue Point (Ire).
She is smart! 🚀
Mountain Breeze looks all over a Pattern-class juvenile as she powers away from her rivals in the final half-furlong to make a winning debut for the Charlie Appleby team.
A Queen Mary filly?@godolphin | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/2PP63zgKAB
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2024
5th-Newmarket, £40,000, Novice, 5-5, 2yo, f, 5fT, 1:00.17, gd.
MOUNTAIN BREEZE (IRE), f, 2, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Lava Flow (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mount Elbrus (GB), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: El Jazirah (GB), by Kris (GB)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $25,865. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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