By Sean Cronin
Marc Chan's 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Cercle De La Vie {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had been in and out of form in eight outings since registering those career highlights as a juvenile and backed up a fourth in last month's G2 Summer Mile with a last-gasp win in Saturday's G2 William Hill Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
Fourth through halfway and scrubbed along approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 9-2 chance was afforded a dream seam underneath the stands' side rail inside the final furlong and kept on strongly under late rousting to deny 'TDN Rising Star' Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by a half-length in the dying embers. Nurlan Bizakov's slow-starting Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) made relentless headway in the straight and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third.
“It's always the old boys that get you out of trouble,” admitted Ralph Beckett. “I'm thrilled to bits because it didn't really happen for him at three. That rain was very helpful for him this morning. I think I'm right in saying that's Hector [Crouch]'s biggest win, so I'm pleased for him too.”
Pedigree Notes
Angel Bleu is the first of two foals and lone runner produced by a full-sister to MG1SW sire Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His dam Cercle De La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of G2 South Australian Oaks runner-up Hveger (Aus) (Danehill), is also a full-sister to G1 Caulfield S. hero Cape Of Good Hope (Ire), MG1SP G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G2 Hardwicke S. victor Idaho (Ire) and G3 Ballysax S. victor Nobel Prize (Ire). Her black-type siblings also include the dual Group 1-placed Valdemoro (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}). The February-foaled bay's G1 Australia Oaks-winning third dam Circles Of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}) threw MG1SW Australian champions Elvstroem (Aus) (Danehill) and Haradasun (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus). Circles Of Gold is the leading performer for Olympic Aim (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}), whose descendants include MG1SW sire Starspangledbanner (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) and G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas victrix Amicus (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
Angel Bleu is simply divine in the @WilliamHill Celebration Mile @Goodwood_Races
Knight was a worthy nemesis, but @RalphBeckett's colt finds more under pressure in the hands of @HectorCrouch pic.twitter.com/9rRdwrXcgj
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 26, 2023
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
WILLIAM HILL CELEBRATION MILE S.-G2, £158,500, Goodwood, 8-26, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:44.67, sf.
1–ANGEL BLEU (FR), 132, c, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Cercle De La Vie (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hveger (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Circles Of Gold (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
(€120,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Marc Chan; B-Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock (FR); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Hector Crouch. £89,885. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Fr, 17-7-2-2, $798,273. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Knight (Ire), 126, g, 3, Mehmas (Ire)–Fidaaha (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). (210,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-KHK Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £34,078.
3–Charyn (Ire), 126, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £17,055.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 5.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Holguin (GB), Epictetus (Ire), Random Harvest (Ire), Galeron (Ire). Scratched: Aldaary (GB).
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