By Tom Frary
Ryan Moore will probably not ride an easier winner than Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) all week after the Ballydoyle's latest Classic prospect spreadeagled the field in the G2 Queen's Vase. Signing off 2019 with a defeat of the useful Sunchart (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) over a mile at Listowel in September, the bay was always on an even keel here settled worse than mid-division throughout the early stages before coming on strong as the pressure intensified. Moving to the lead with grace two out, the 10-3 shot stayed on powerfully after veering down towards the rail for a 2 3/4-length success from Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}), with 8 1/2 lengths back to Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third.
Santiago's success means that Aidan O'Brien is just one short of Sir Henry Cecil's record of eight wins in this prize and total tally of 75 Royal Ascot winners. “Santiago is a lovely, straightforward horse. He travels and stays well,” he said. “He is a very easy horse to train and get fit. We thought he was going to be an ideal [Sept. 12 G1] St Leger horse. We will give him another run in between.”
O'Brien trained the subsequent Leger winners Leading Light (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to take this en route to glory in that Doncaster Classic, but he also has the 2017 Queen's Vase winner Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in his sights. “He could be a Gold Cup horse next year, so we will keep that in our minds,” he added. “He is a strong traveller and will get better from three to four.”
Santiago, who was also second to the top-class Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) at Galway in August, is a rare runner for the operation by the Haras du Logis-based Authorized. He is the first foal out of the dam, who won over nine furlongs for Shadwell and Francois Rohaut before being bought by Horse France for €275,000 at the 2016 Arqana Summer Sale. The listed-placed second dam Thamarat (GB) (Anabaa) produced three black-type performers including last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) and the multiple listed-placed Riqa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is in turn the dam of the G3 Prix de Cabourg, G3 Prix de Meautry and G3 Prix du Petit Couvert scorer Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). Also connected to the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Tamayuz (GB) (Nayef), her daughter of Frankel (GB) was purchased by the Broadhurst Agency for 850,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 and is named La Joconde (Ire). She also has a yearling filly by that sire to come.
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN'S VASE-G2, £110,000, Royal Ascot, 6-19, 3yo, 14f 34yT, 3:05.67, sf.
1–SANTIAGO (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Authorized (Ire)
1st Dam: Wadyhatta (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Thamarat (GB), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Al Ishq (Fr), by Nureyev
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £65,120. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $101,562. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Berkshire Rocco (Fr), 126, c, 3, Sir Percy (GB)–Sunny Again (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (€35,000 Wlg '17 ARQDE; €50,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR). O-Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd; B-SAGL Seserve (FR); T-Andrew Balding. £24,629.
3–Al Dabaran (GB), 126, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Bright Beacon (GB), by Manduro (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £12,309.
Margins: 2 3/4, 8HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.33, 3.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Born With Pride (Ire), Nobel Prize (Ire), Punctuation (GB), Cloud Thunder (GB), On Guard (GB). Scratched: London Arch (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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