Ain't Nobody a Stakes First for Sands Of Mali in the Windsor Castle

Kevin Ryan trainee Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}–Burmese Waltz {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) became his first-crop sire's fourth individual winner when notching a decisive debut victory over Carlisle's stiff five furlongs at the end of last month and registered a first black-type success for the Ballyhane Stud resident in Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Drawn alongside Stateside challenger Gabaldon (Gone Astray) and caught in the wash as that rival blazed a trail on the stands' side, the 5-1 third choice emerged as the most serious threat to the long-time leader when coming under a Jamie Spencer drive approaching the final furlong and kept on relentlessly to collar Gabaldon in the last 50 yards en route to a one-length tally.

“Ascot is Ascot and I am very happy to have this winner,” the winning trainer said. “The horses we bring down here, we expect to be competitive, and this was a very competitive race. When I looked at the [G2] Norfolk, I thought maybe we're in the wrong race, but he's a very good horse and will do nothing but improve. Jamie [Spencer] gave him a super ride. Jamie is brilliant here and we've had a great association for a number of years. With nice 2-year-olds, we are never in too much of a rush with them. If we have one or two to go to Ascot, we go, and if we haven't, we stay at home. There is a lot of the season left after Ascot and a lot of big festival meetings to go.”

Spencer added, “Normally, I take my time, but it's a speed-favouring track today and it panned out perfectly. I followed the American horse, getting a good lead, and he was always going to bring me as far as I wanted. I got a little bit lost coming to the final furlong, when Ain't Nobody eased out a little, but once he straightened up, off he went. We've got our Classics, but this is the most important Flat meeting of the year, so to get on the board is important as you only get so many chances. I am especially pleased for Kevin [Ryan], he is a great guy and I have been riding for him for a long time. Kevin and his team deserve all the success they get.”

Ain't Nobody does it better than Gabaldon to win the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/Yt6lYg6SAM

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2024

Pedigree Notes

Ain't Nobody is the first of two foals thrown by a dual-winning granddaughter of Nitya (Fr) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), herself a full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning sire Domedriver (Ire). Nitya is also kin to G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange winner Tau Ceti (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and to the dam of G2 Prix de Pomone victrix and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational runner-up Freedonia  (GB) (Selkirk). Freedonia, in turn, is the dam of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The March-foaled bay, who hails from the family of Group 1-winning champions Try My Best (Northern Dancer) and El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer), is half to a yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire).

Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
WINDSOR CASTLE S.-Listed, £110,000, Ascot, 6-19, 2yo, 5fT, :59.32, g/f.
1–AIN'T NOBODY (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Sands Of Mali (Fr)
1st Dam: Burmese Waltz (GB), by Showcasing (GB)
2nd Dam: Heho (GB), by Dansili (GB)
3rd Dam: Nitya (Fr), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (£30,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-J Blackburn & J Matthews; B-Ballyhane (Rathbride) Umlimited (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Jamie Spencer. £62,381. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $87,871.
2–Gabaldon, 131, c, 2, Gone Astray–Valuable Miss, by Value Plus. ($9,000 Ylg '23 OBSOCT). O-Soldi Stable LLC; B-Carol Ann Reitman, Susan Gannon & Warren Miller (FL); T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo. £23,650.
3–Aviation Time (Ire), 126, f, 2, Sands Of Mali (Fr)–Lady Correspondent, by War Front. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Ballyhane (IRE); T-Richard Hughes. £11,836.
Margins: 1, HF, 1HF. Odds: 5.00, 16.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Weissmuller (Ire), Vingegaard (Ire), Rudi's Apple (Ire), Sir Yoshi (Ire), Calyxoh (Ire), Zabeel Road (Ire), End Of Story (Ire), Fuji Mountain (Ire), Reposado (GB), Shadow Army (GB), Sensorium (Ire), Sex On Fire (Ire), Cheval De Guerre, Hawaiian (GB), Celtic Chieftain (Ire), Brosay (GB), Rock N Roll Rocket (Ire), Artagnan (Ire), Karl Carlston (Ire), Treasure Isle (Ire), Honorary American (Ire), Arabian Cobra (Ire), Pont Neuf (Ire), Bretton Wood (GB).