By Tom Frary
There were three Guineas heroes lined up for Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S. and ultimately it was the winner of the Irish Classic in Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) who came away from Royal Ascot with the bragging rights. If his Curragh victory was a case of consolation following his second to Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Newmarket, this was all about affirmation as the well-supported 5-2 second favourite readily reversed the 2,000 Guineas form and put the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) in his place.
In the event, it was the Poulains also-ran Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who really put it up to the Richard Hannon-trained homebred but Sean Levey was able to conjure the magic to reel in that Ballydoyle blueblood inside the final 100 yards. At the line, there was a neck between, with three lengths separating them and Metropolitan as the 6-4 favourite Notable Speech over-raced and wound up a below-par seventh.
“He had to be good today and he travelled so well, picked up strong and was very tenacious to the line,” Levey said. “This horse really has to have something to aim at, I think he showed that at The Curragh. I just hope that one day they go a really good gallop, so that we get to see him really show his true potential. At the moment, he's just showing how versatile he really is. I hoped he would be that horse I've been waiting for all my career. Boy, he was good today.”
Rosallion was not ready for Royal Ascot last term, but he was here on King George today to set the pulse racing with four-length win in what turned out to be a red-hot renewal of the Listed Pat Eddery S. Only third in Doncaster's G2 Champagne S., he had things fall into place when subsequently breaking ParisLongchamp's course record in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day.
In hindsight, a combination of meeting an on-fire Notable Speech and being exposed to too much daylight caused his undoing in the 2,000 Guineas and having obtained vital cover in the Curragh equivalent was able to unleash his potent acceleration. Ideally drawn against the fence here, he was still a touch free until able to draft in behind Metropolitan with the Ballydoyle pair of Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) bossing things up ahead.
As Moore committed on Henry Longfellow in the straight, Levey needed Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to falter to his outside to get into the clear and fortunately for him that was the case. Rattling home as Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star drove on relentlessly, Rosallion proved as genuine as he is classy to subdue that rival who had enjoyed the perfect trip.
“Rosallion was special before today–has always been brilliant, physically and mentally,” Hannon said. “I couldn't believe he got beaten in the Guineas the way he was travelling, but he won the Irish Guineas very well and is the complete package. He's as good as I've ever seen in our place. Quite often you call these horses something that they're not–that's an occupational hazard–but this lad has never let me down. He's in the Sussex, he's in all those big races and I can't wait.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Henry Longfellow, “We are delighted with him, he ran a great race and we think there's more to come. He didn't have much of a run in France, so that was his first real race this year and it's really like first time out for him. He is happy at a mile, but he could step up further. Ryan was surprised that the winner came and got him, because he was running to the line.”
Metropolitan's trainer Mario Baratti said, “I won't complain at Alexis [Pouchin], I'm happy with the ride, but he started galloping the last 200 metres when he had the gap. It was good to see that he is at that level and can run with the best. I think we'll stay at a mile–with more pace early in the race, you never know, he might have got it.”
Charlie Appleby was unable to explain the effort of Notable Speech, who flattened out for the first time in his career. “Will said he was happy where he was, wheeled him out like he normally would and expected him to pick up through the gears. He said he just didn't pick up and we weren't strong going through the line–he lost a place or two just at the finish,” he said. “He seems fine afterwards with no abnormalities at all. We will just see if anything comes out of it. It is disappointing, obviously, but full credit to the winner. He's a Blue Point and you always know that they are going to bring their A game to Ascot. Full credit to Richard, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and all the team.”
Pedigree Notes
Rosallion's unraced dam Rosaline is now another notable progeny of the owner-breeder's remarkable Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), whose six black-type-winning progeny are headed by Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who also excelled at this meeting when capturing last year's G1 Queen Anne S. Also responsible for the G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), whose G2 Sandy Lane S.-winning son Inisherin (GB) by Blue Point's sire Shamardal heads to post as one of the favourites for Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup.
Rosaline, who is also a full-sister to the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner Ostilio (GB) and a half to Shamardal's G3 Bengough S. winner Cape Byron (GB), has the 2-year-old colt Lord Capulet (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) to follow.
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ST JAMES'S PALACE S.-G1, £687,875, Ascot, 6-18, 3yo, c, 7f 213yT, 1:38.38, g/f.
1–ROSALLION (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Rosaline (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Reem Three (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Jumaireyah (GB), by Fairy King
O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Richard
Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £390,094. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire &
Fr, 7-5-1-1, $1,241,196. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Henry Longfellow (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Minding (Ire),
by Galileo (Ire). TDN Rising Star. O-Mr M Tabor, D Smith & Mrs
John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £147,893.
3–Metropolitan (Fr), 128, c, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Alianza (GB), by
Halling. (€78,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-P R Bradley III/Scuderia
Scolari; B-Stuart McPhee (FR); T-Mario Baratti. £74,015.
Margins: NK, 3, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.50, 5.50, 20.00.
Also Ran: Unquestionable (Fr), Alyanaabi (Ire), Almaqam (GB), Notable Speech (GB), Darlinghurst (Ire).
What a finish! @LeveySean skillfully snatches victory on ROSALLION in The St James's Palace Stakes. Hats off to @rhannonracing #RoyalAscot #FlatRacing pic.twitter.com/YOcR2ukHdU
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 18, 2024
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