By Sean Cronin
Sir Michael Stoute trainee Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}–Hayyona {GB}, by Multiplex {GB}), winless in three Group 1 starts since annexing last term's G1 Champion S., regained the winning thread with a confidence-boosting success in Saturday's G3 Unibet September S. at Kempton.
The 8-11 favourite hit the board in both G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier in the campaign and went postward this first outing at the 12-furlong trip coming back off a fifth in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot. Bay Bridge broke well and was positioned fourth passing the judge first time before tanking along in third down the backstraight. Waiting patiently for the cutaway once turning for home, he quickened in style to seize control approaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly thereafter to easily defeat Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by 3 3/4 lengths, becoming a record seventh winner of the contest for Stoute.
“We were unsure about the distance, so we've ticked that box and that's a real big plus,” said Stoute after adding another edition to his record haul. “We'll do some thinking now with the owners as to where we go next. The [faster] ground stopped him earlier in the season, so he had an enforced break. He was very impressive today and I like the way he did it.”
The star act strikes in the @unibet September Stakes!
Bay Bridge records his first win since Champion Stakes glory last year to give Sir Michael Stoute a record seventh success in the feature at @kemptonparkrace 🏇 @RKingscote pic.twitter.com/I1fPQeSB5u
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 9, 2023
Pedigree Notes
Bay Bridge is the fourth of eight foals and one of three scorers from four runners out of a half-sister to G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Shimraan (Fr) (Rainbow Quest). He is full to a weanling colt and a half to the unraced 2-year-old colt Lucky Hour (GB) (Time Test {GB}). His stakes-winning third dam Shemaya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who produced G1 Prix du Jockey Club second Shamkiyr (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), is kin to G3 Prix Allez France victrix Shemima (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Cormorant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie victrix Shemala (Ire) (Danehill). Descendants of Shemala, herself a daughter of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}), include G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Shakeel (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}).
Saturday, Kempton, Britain
UNIBET SEPTEMBER S.-G3, £90,000, Kempton, 9-9, 3yo/up, 11f 219y (AWT), 2:30.87, st/sl.
1–BAY BRIDGE (GB), 133, h, 5, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Hayyona (GB), by Multiplex (GB)
2nd Dam: Shemriyna (Ire), by King Of Kings (Ire)
3rd Dam: Shemaya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
O-James Wigan & Ballylinch Stud; B-London Thoroughbred Services Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Richard Kingscote. £51,039. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Fr & Ire, 14-7-2-2, $1,512,681. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Candleford (Ire), 133, g, 5, Kingman (GB)–Dorcas Lane (GB), by Norse Dancer (Ire). O/B-Barnane Stud Ltd (IRE); T-William Haggas. £19,350.
3–Max Vega (Ire), 133, g, 6, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Paraphernalia (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€47,000 RNA Wlg '17 GOFNOV; €25,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR). O-The Pickford Hill Partnership; B-Tullpark Ltd (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £9,684.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2, 3/4. Odds: 0.73, 11.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Belloccio (Fr), Shandoz (GB), Israr (GB), Fortino (Chi).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
