By Tom Frary
Continuing his perfect start to the current campaign, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) added The Curragh's G2 Coolmore Stud Sottsass Irish EBF Mooresbridge S. to last month's G3 Alleged S. success with the minimum of fuss on Monday. Third in the Derby last June after taking the G3 Ballysax S. and finishing runner-up in the G2 Dante S., the John Murphy-trained grey stalked the leader Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) early under Colin Keane before taking over approaching the two-furlong pole. Too strong from there, the 2-1 favourite hit the line with 3 3/4 lengths to spare over Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}), who denied Greenland second by a neck.
Assistant trainer George Murphy said, “He travelled along nicely, they didn't go much of a gallop, but it was by far his best performance. We'll see how he comes out of that and talk to the owners to make a plan. He has the option of the [G1] Tattersalls Gold Cup and also the [G1] Coronation Cup at Epsom. He's come on a nice bit from the last day and hopefully he can come on again.”
Pedigree Notes
White Birch is a son of the Cheveley Park Stud-bred Diagnostic (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), whose dam Holistic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a full-sister to the Listed Kilvington Fillies' S. winner and stakes producer Prescription (GB) and a half to four other black-type winners. They are headed by the dual G3 Princess Elizabeth S. winner Clinical (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who later produced the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) runner-up and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. third Lockheed (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
From the family of Rahaam (Secreto), Diagnostic is connected to the late sire Verglas (Ire) and the high-class sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who produced the triple group 1 winner Halfway To Heaven (Ire) by Holistic's sire Pivotal. She produced the brilliant Galileo (Ire) pair Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire), with the latter responsible for the Derby hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Diagnostic's yearling colt is also by Ulysses (Ire).
Far too good 🔴🟡
White Birch makes short work of his rivals in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes to make it 2-2 for the season.
Some of the top middle-distance flat races are now on the cards for this thriving 4yo.@JosephOBrien2 | @coolmorestud | @IrishEBF_ pic.twitter.com/Iy1OfpY043
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 6, 2024
Monday, The Curragh, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD SOTTSASS IRISH EBF MOORESBRIDGE S.-G2, €138,000, Curragh, 5-6, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:21.10, sf.
1–WHITE BIRCH (GB), 131, c, 4, by Ulysses (Ire)
1st Dam: Diagnostic (GB), by Dutch Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Holistic (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Doctor's Glory, by Elmaamul
(75,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 48,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Cheveley Park Stud Limited (GB); T-John Joseph Murphy; J-Colin Keane. €72,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 9-4-1-1, $418,705. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lord Massusus (Ire), 131, g, 4, Markaz (Ire)–Wajaha (Ire), by Haafhd (GB). O-John N Bourke; B-Longrove Stud (IRE); T-Joseph G Murphy. €24,000.
3–Greenland (Ire), 131, c, 4, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Aktoria (Fr), by Canford Cliffs (Ire). (160,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 300,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-SCEA Marmion & Mr A Jathiere (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, NK, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.00, 20.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Village Voice (GB), Maxux (Ire). Scratched: Elegant Man, Goldana (Ire).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
