By Tom Frary
Making all on her return in Saturday's G2 Temple S. at Haydock, Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) enjoyed the perfect warm-up for a second tilt at the G1 King's Stand S. in which she was third in 2020. Also third in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye when last seen in October, the 13-8 favourite was made to pull out the stops late on by Ainsdale (GB) (Mayson {GB}) but kept finding to score by a neck as Lady In France (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was half a length away in third. “She's very quick and has won three times first time out,” commented trainer John Quinn, who also saddled the fifth Keep Busy (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). “The two of them are in the [June 15] King's Stand and they'll go there. She had to be tough and she dug deep–as Jason [Hart] said, nothing passed her after the line.”
Successful in the G3 Molecomb S. and runner-up in the G2 Lowther S. as a juvenile, Liberty Beach had taken the Listed Cecil Frail S. over six furlongs here only nine days before her King's Stand effort due to the compressed nature of the pre-Royal Ascot calendar last term. Also second in the G3 Sandown Sprint S. and fourth in the G2 King George S. at Goodwood before her Abbaye sign-off, she has extra time between this prep and her rematch with Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who has had his own problems this Spring. “As you know well, it's nice to get them out and get a run into them,” Quinn added. “Anyone can only do so much at home, so to have a run into both of these is vital really. She has a lot of class and a lot of speed. She could have been unbeaten as a two-year-old. Her last run in the Abbaye was very good. She's won on good-to-firm, good, soft and heavy–both these fillies are very versatile. The two of them are very good.”
Liberty Beach's dam Flirtinaskirt (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}) is kin to three black-type performers including the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner La Rioja (GB) (Hellvelyn {GB}) and the G3 Princess Margaret S. runner-up Pastoral Girl (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}), in turn the dam of the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Mill Reef S. third Rhythm Master (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Also connected to the G2 Park Hill S.-winning stayer Eastern Aria (UAE) (Halling), Flirtinaskirt has a yearling filly by Massaat (Ire) to follow.
Saturday, Haydock, Britain
CASUMO BEST ODDS GUARANTEED TEMPLE S.-G2, £95,850, Haydock, 5-22, 3yo/up, 5fT, 1:03.99, hy.
1–LIBERTY BEACH (GB), 127, f, 4, by Cable Bay (Ire)
1st Dam: Flirtinaskirt (GB), by Avonbridge (GB)
2nd Dam: Talampaya, by Elusive Quality
3rd Dam: Argentina, by Storm Cat
(£16,000 RNA Ylg '18 TASAYG). O/B-Philip Wilkins (GB); T-John Quinn; J-Jason Hart. £54,357. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng & Fr, 13-6-2-2, $365,334. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ainsdale (GB), 130, c, 4, Mayson (GB)–Bruni Heinke (Ire), by Dutch Art (GB). O-David W Armstrong; B-Highfield Farm LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke. £20,608.
3–Lady In France (GB), 127, m, 5, Showcasing (GB)–Sacre Coeur (GB), by Compton Place (GB). (210,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Karl Burke. £10,313.
Margins: NK, HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.63, 12.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Declaring Love (GB), Keep Busy (Ire), Jabbarockie (GB). Scratched: Que Amoro (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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