By Tom Frary
Fourth in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes and third over seven furlongs in the G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, John Wallinger's Cool Hoof Luke (GB) (Advertise {GB}–Dutch Monument {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) showed that speed is his game by taking Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York. Anchored towards the rear early by Oisin Murphy, the Andrew Balding-trained 8-1 shot was delivered with a potent kick to lead passing the furlong pole and get to the line 3/4 of a length ahead of Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), with a head back to Symbol Of Strength (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in third.
“He's a big 2-year-old–you look at him and you think he's going to be a better 3-year-old, we weren't sure about the trip as he's bred to be a sprinter and looks like a seven-furlong horse,” Anna Lisa Balding said. “I think we were a bit disappointed at Goodwood, but he came back and won the right one today.”
Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said of Shadow Of Light, “That was his first step up into group company and it is a big step up. I think he's probably learned a lot, he's run his race, but he just got beaten by one better on the day. I think the trip is fine for him, he'll stick at six for now, but he just got beat by one on the day.”
Adrian Keatley was delighted with the effort of the 80-1 shot Symbol Of Strength. “I'd like to think I've been looking at them long enough now to know when we've got a good one, but I was starting to doubt myself when I saw he was the outsider of the field yesterday,” he said. “He's a good horse, he'll have no problems getting seven furlongs and next year maybe even a mile, he's got scope and will grow a bit, we think a lot of him and the sky is the limit. He's in the Mill Reef and we'll go there as long as the ground is not too soft.”
💨😎
Cool Hoof Luke lands the valuable Group 2 @ABE_Dubai Gimcrack Stakes for Andrew Balding and @oismurphy 🥇@SkyBet | @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/EMRiyxuk4v
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 23, 2024
Pedigree Notes
The dam, whose son of Tasleet (GB) is catalogued in next week's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, is a daughter of the listed-placed Lovina (Ity) (Love The Groom) and full-sister to the G3 Premio Omenoni scorer Lohit (GB) and a half to the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas) winner Lokaloka (GB) (Pursuit Of Love {GB}).
Friday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK STAKES-G2, £250,000, York, 8-23, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:10.78, gd.
1–COOL HOOF LUKE (GB), 128, c, 2, by Advertise (GB)
1st Dam: Dutch Monument (GB), by Dutch Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Lovina (Ity), by Love the Groom
3rd Dam: Menem (Ire), by Bold Arrangement (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (16,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; €20,000 Ylg '23 TATIRY). O-John Wallinger & Partner; B-Tony Nerses (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £141,775. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $222,951. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shadow Of Light (GB), 128, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Winters Moon (Ire), by New Approach (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £53,750.
3–Symbol Of Strength (Ire), 128, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Symbol Of Love (GB), by Shamardal.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£100,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-Keatley Owners Group, Finneran & Moore; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Adrian Keatley. £26,900.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 1. Odds: 8.00, 6.00, 80.00.
Also Ran: Big Mojo (Ire), Caburn (Ire), Camille Pissarro (Ire), Andesite (GB), King's Call (Ire), The Strikin Viking (Ire), Billboard Star (GB).
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