MIDTERM GETS SANDOWN VOTE
Newmarket conditioner Sir Michael Stoute had registered three scores in Sandown's G3 Bet365 Classic Trial, going on to claim G1 Epsom Derby success with Shergar (GB) and Shahrastani, and seems to have unearthed another jewel in the shape of Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who justified 8-11 favouritism to win Friday's latest renewal with a degree of panache.
Juddmonte's homebred bay garnered a one-mile Newbury maiden in taking fashion in his only prior go Oct. 23 and was under restraint in fifth through the early fractions of this first black-type start. Moving effortlessly into contention on the bridle in the straight, he seized a narrow advantage entering the final eighth and benefitted from Ryan Moore's experience in the closing stages to comfortably best Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), coincidentally the winner in the other division of Midterm's Newbury maiden, with the pair clear of toiling rivals.
Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 CLASSIC TRIAL-G3, £65,000, SAN, 4-22, 3yo, 10f 7yT, 2:11.11, g/s.
1–#@MIDTERM (GB), 127, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Midday (GB) (Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f & 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GISW-US & MG1SP-Ire, $3,438,502), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Midsummer (GB), by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Modena, by Roberto
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £36,862. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $62,759. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Algometer (GB), 127, c, 3, Archipenko–Albanova (GB), by Alzao. (140,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-David Simcock. £13,975.
3–High Grounds (Ire), 127, c, 3, High Chaparral (Ire)–Civility Cat, by Tale of the Cat. (€115,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-A M Shead, Cavendish Inv Ltd & J Hanson; B-Lynch Bages, Camas Park & Brittas House (IRE); T-Charles Hills. £6,994.
Margins: 1HF, 8, HF. Odds: 0.70, 12.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Palawan (GB), Dwight D (GB), Ode To Evening (GB). Scratched: Ventura Storm (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Connections were understandably delighted with the display and jockey Ryan Moore was first out of the blocks with his praise. “I thought it was a really professional performance,” the rider said. “We went a good, even pace and he travelled nicely. I always felt he was in control and, although he was a little bit green coming up the hill, every time I asked him he kept responding. He doesn't do much at home and seems to save his best for the track, but you'd be very happy with what he's done today. He'll have no problem with Epsom because he's a very neat horse and a very good mover. He's certainly bred to do the job. There's a few more trials to be seen and there's a lot of horses we haven't seen yet. It's early days, but this horse has done absolutely nothing wrong.”
Sir Michael Stoute, who last won the contest with Fantastic Light in 1999, continued, “He wouldn't beat a decent maiden at home and hasn't done an impressive piece of work yet. It was the same last year, but he's such a beautiful athlete with a great pedigree that he's got so many credentials. We went just hoping he'd run well at Newbury when we felt he was ready for a race. He's not changed in his work this year, but he showed here that he really travels. He travelled very well, but got to the front and pricked his ears. He's now been in a race on a turning track. He had to perform today for him to be considered a Derby horse. It is well documented he is not flamboyant in his home work. He is a good quality horse with a good attitude and we can afford to be hopeful, but he still has a long way to go. We'll go for one of the trials now, either Chester or York. We'll work it out.”
Midterm is the first foal out of the three-time G1 Nassau S. heroine and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Midday (GB), who has since produced the 2-year-old filly Mori (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a yearling colt by Frankel (GB). Midday's stakes-placed dam Midsummer (GB) (Kingmambo) is a half-sister to MG1SW highweights Elmaamul (Diesis {GB}) and Reams of Verse (Nureyev).
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