By Sean Cronin
Paul and Clare Rooney's Isabella Giles (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) registered a pair of six-furlong wins–at Leicester in June and at Newbury in July–but lost her unbeaten tag when fourth in Ascot's July 26 G3 Princess Margaret S. before bouncing back to claim a first black-type score for her freshman sire (by Lope de Vega {Ire}) in Goodwood's Aug. 29 G3 Prestige S. when upped to seven furlongs last time. Aided by a strong tailwind over the same distance in Friday's G2 Shadwell Rockfel S. at Newmarket, the 11-5 chance continued on an upward trajectory with a decisive two-length defeat of Nazuna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Racing second after breaking on the lead, she regained control before halfway and kept on relentlessly under a drive once shaken up at the quarter-mile marker to double her stakes tally in game fashion. Nazuna threatened throughout the final quarter mile, but was unable to strike a late blow. She finished 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), while even-money favourite Monday (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) came under pressure far too early for comfort and was 5 1/2 lengths further back in a well-beaten fourth.
“She put up a very classy performance, she's got a wonderful temperament, she settles into a lovely rhythm and can find her own way in a race,” said winning trainer Clive Cox. “She doesn't have to lead, but is so relaxed that finding a rhythm and setting your own fractions worked perfectly. Adam [Kirby] got his fractions right and she made a good job of it. I think she is definitely a filly to get a mile next year, which is really exciting, and I'm delighted for Clare and Paul Rooney to have such an exciting possibility as a Classic contender. I'm over the moon.” Looking ahead to possible targets, Cox added, “She is very well balanced, she has won at the track and is a filly that has a little bit of scope. She's got a wonderful mind and clearly a big level of ability. She is in the [G1] Fillies' Mile [back at this venue], but she has done pretty good this year. She wouldn't have blown a candle out there, but we will see how she comes back. It was a 'Win and You're In' race for the Breeders' Cup, but I'm not sure. Next year beckons over a mile, and I think we will be looking that way.”
Roger Varian, trainer of runner-up Nazuna, expressed delight with his charge and also revealed short-term options. He said, “She is a lovely filly and we were not here just to make up the numbers. I really like her and I'm delighted she has run up to our expectations. Andrea [Atzeni] thinks she will stay a mile and there are lots of nice options. There's the [G3] Oh So Sharp back here in a couple of weeks or there is the [GI] Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf, which is a race we were second in with Daahyeh last year after winning this.”
Isabella Giles, one of three scorers out of G3 Firth of Clyde S. victress Majestic Dubawi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), is a half-sister to MSW G3 Goldene Peitsche and G3 Silberne Peitsche placegetter Majestic Colt (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), a yearling colt by Nathaniel (Ire) and a weanling filly by Fascinating Rock (Ire). Descendants of her third dam South Shore (GB) (Caerleon), herself a winning half-sister to MG1SW sire Soviet Line (Ire) (Soviet Star), include MG1SP G3 Round Tower S. winner Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and G2 Vintage S. and G2 Oettingen-Rennen victor Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
SHADWELL ROCKFEL S.-G2, £80,000, Newmarket, 9-25, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:22.55, gd.
1–ISABELLA GILES (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Belardo (Ire)
1st Dam: Majestic Dubawi (GB) (GSW-Eng), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tidal Chorus (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: South Shore, by Caerleon
(€45,000 Ylg '19 GOFSPT). O-Paul & Clare Rooney; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, $96,759. *1/2 to Majestic Colt (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), MSW & MGSP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nazuna (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Night Fever (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (60,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Mrs H Varian; B-Barouche Stud Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £17,200.
3–Alba Rose (GB), 126, f, 2, Muhaarar (GB)–Reckoning (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (100,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Dr J Walker; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £8,608.
Margins: 2, 3 1/4, 5HF. Odds: 2.20, 10.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Monday, Santosha (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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