By Tom Frary
Confirming the form of Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S., Kirsten Rausing's Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) was in a dominant mood as she brought up a notable pattern-race double in Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket.
Held up behind a duo racing far side throughout the early stages, the 11-5 favourite moved to the lead approaching the furlong pole and readily drew away to beat Desert Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths, with the Albany runner-up Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) half a length back in third.
“She had to prove herself on quick ground and she has done that today,” rider David Probert said. “She got into a great rhythm throughout the race and when the pace quickened before the two, she stepped up another gear under pressure on the rising ground. She's got a great temperament and took a good bit of pulling up there, so I don't see why she couldn't step up in trip.”
Now a winner on Kempton's Polytrack May 19, on deep ground in the June 18 Albany and fast going here, the homebred has inherited a vast amount of versatility.
Owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing said, “She's independent of going, like her sire was and he was a turf performer in America who also won on heavy ground at Cork on his only European appearance. The family goes back about six generations since I bought her ancestress as a yearling and we also stand the sire, whose first group winner she is. I'm delighted for his sake and for that of my team at home and, of course, Andrew Balding, David Probert and the entire team at Kingsclere who have done so well. I think she did it very convincingly. She had it won a while before she passed the line. I think she has proved at present she is the best 2-year-old filly in England and Ireland.”
Sandrine is the second foal out of Seychelloise (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), whose first is the useful 3-year-old colt Sea the Shells (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), fourth in the Listed Fairway S. in May. She is a daughter of the G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Starlit Sands (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who was also runner-up in the G2 Queen Mary S., while the third dam is the G3 Silken Glider S. third Shimmering Sea (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}). A half to the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S.-winning sire Petoski (GB) (Niniski), she produced the Scandinavian champion Sea Dane (GB) (Danehill) and the dams of the G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Songerie (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), the G1 Oaks d'Italia third Souvenance (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and the G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. winner Chigun (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Seychelloise's yearling colt is by Roaring Lion, while she also has a colt foal by Study of Man (Ire).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE S.-G2, £90,000, Newmarket, 7-9, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.65, g/f.
1–SANDRINE (GB), 126, f, 2, by Bobby's Kitten
1st Dam: Seychelloise (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Starlit Sands (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
3rd Dam: Shimmering Sea (GB), by Slip Anchor (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-David Probert. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $128,409. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Desert Dreamer (GB), 126, f, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Pure Innocence (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (20,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-J W Parry & Mrs C Shekells; B-Branton Court Stud (GB); T-Stuart Williams. £19,350.
3–Hello You (Ire), 126, f, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Lucrece (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (€350,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Serge Boucheron (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £9,684.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.20, 5.50, 2.25.
Also Ran: Oscula (Ire), Honey Sweet (Ire), Flotus (Ire), Sadmah (GB), Ellade (GB). Scratched: Shouldavbeenmore (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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