Kilmah had shown enough on debut when seeing to the subsequently group-placed Seafront (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) over six furlongs at Newmarket May 13 to suggest she needed to be in black-type company and stayed at that trip thereafter with mostly commendable results. Sixth in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. June 17, the bay was fourth and beaten just over a half length in total in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket July 8 prior to finishing four-lengths second to Fair Eva (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Ascot's G3 Princess Margaret S. over six furlongs July 23. Following her seventh in the G2 Lowther S. at York nine days prior to this test, it was clear that she needed further distance and she duly proved her stamina with a game all-the-way first black-type success under Franny Norton. Always comfortable on the front end, Kilmah had to fight to see off Promising in the last furlong but dug deep in the style that has long been the trademark of her trainers's representatives. “She stuck to her guns and was never going to be denied,” her rider said. “She started to hang left from a long way out, but she's tough and tries hard.” Mark Johnston added, “She disappointed terribly at York, but although there is a trend that the answer to every poor run is a rest, that doesn't do them a lot of good and she seemed perfectly well. She's a really nice filly and was one of the cheapest horses in the Book 1 Sale last year which I never really understood. I don't think we'll go back to six, as she was outpaced at York and there is a lot to dream about for next year.”
The first group winner for her sire in the northern hemisphere, Kilmah is a daughter of the smart Perfect Star who is a half to the G3 Tercentenary S. third Rewarded (GB) (Motivator {GB}). The third dam Germane (GB) (Distant Relative {Ire}) captured the G3 Rockfel S. and also produced the GII Virginia Derby runner-up and GI Hollywood Derby third Lucky Chappy (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Still to come from the dam is a yearling colt by Helmet (Aus) and a filly foal by Showcasing (GB).
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
PRESTIGE S.-G3, £40,000, GOO, 8-27, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.08, g/f.
1–#@KILMAH (GB), 126, f, 2, by Sepoy (Aus)
1st Dam: Perfect Star (GB) (SW-Eng, $170,069), by Act One (GB)
2nd Dam: Granted (Fr), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Germane (GB), by Distant Relative (Ire)
(32,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Mildmay Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Mark Johnston; J-Francis Norton. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-0, $57,499. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Promising (Ire), 126, f, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Lethal Quality, by Elusive Quality. (€350,000 Ylg '15 GOFORB). O-Denford Stud; B-Irish National Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £8,600.
3–Urban Fox (GB), 126, f, 2, Foxwedge (Aus)–Lomapamar (GB), by Nashwan. (10,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT). O-Saeed Manana; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-James Tate. £4,304.
Margins: NK, 2 1/4, NO. Odds: 5.00, 4.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Rich Legacy (Ire), Tiburtina (Ire), Belle Meade (Ire), Grecian Light (Ire). Scratched: Arwa (Ire), On Her Toes (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
