By Tom Frary
Handed a tough task on debut last month in the G3 Marble Hill S., Ballydoyle's The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–Wonder Of Wonders, by Kingmambo) had finished close enough to Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) and Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) when fifth in that Curragh contest to justify the audacity of that decision.
In calmer waters on Sunday at Gowran Park, the descendant of Urban Sea (Miswaki) showed tenacity as well as class to master the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Keen for Wayne Lordan early, the 4-11 favourite had to work to fend off the challenge of the newcomer Loch Tay (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) but was up to the task to prevail by 3/4 of a length.
“He had to work, he's still very green and raw,” stable representative Chris Armstrong said. “Obviously he had a very good run at The Curragh first time, to start in a group 3 he ran very creditably. The step up to seven definitely helped him, but coming around a bend for the first time he was very green. He jumped slow and it was going to be tricky for him, but his ability got him through. He'll be a nice horse in time and we could maybe go for something like the [G3] Tyros Stakes with him next.”
The dam, who also captured the Listed Cheshire Oaks and was placed in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks alongside her Classic placings, is responsible for the listed scorer and Irish 1,000 Guineas and G1 Moyglare Stud S.-placed So Wonderful (War Front), her G3 Diamond S.-placed full-brother Antilles and Kingman's dual group 3-placed Buttons (Ire). A daughter of the similarly Oaks-placed All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and granddaughter of the legendary Urban Sea (Miswaki), her filly foal is by No Nay Never who sired the family's G2 Prix du Calvados winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac-placed Les Pavots (Ire).
The Parthenon hits the line hard ✊@GowranPark1 pic.twitter.com/JM0v4BvgDJ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 16, 2024
1st-Gowran, €18,000, Mdn, 6-16, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.12, gd.
THE PARTHENON (IRE) (c, 2, Kingman {GB}–Wonder Of Wonders {SW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $281,687}, by Kingmambo) Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $12,868. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
