By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's €2-million Arqana August 'TDN Rising Star' Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), who ran third to subsequent G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagradere victor Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in July's Listed Pat Eddery S., came back off a 77-day sabbatical to trounce his six-strong opposition in Saturday's Emirates Autumn S. at Newmarket.
Positioned off the clear leader in third until taking closer order once past halfway, the 2-1 joint-favourite seized control approaching the final furlong and powered clear of toiling rivals up the hill to easily outpoint Chief Little Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths. Ancient Wisdom had previously followed up a taking debut performance at Haydock in June with a second triumph, under a six-pound penalty, at Newmarket's July track.
“We were disappointed that we were beat at Ascot, but that race worked out so well you couldn't really be disappointed in it,” commented Charlie Appleby. “I've probably mismanaged him running him back at Newmarket. He broke his maiden at Haydock Park and I went to Newmarket thinking I could try and get a bit more experience. He is a Dubawi and I was probably forcing him a bit too much so, after Ascot, we said collectively we will give him a break and we toyed with this and the Zetland. I told William [Buick] he is a horse that will travel for fun stepping up a furlong and also the conditions out there were going to suit him. I said to ride him with mega confidence, to sit up there and travel in the van as he will pick up for you, and he has duly obliged. He is a horse next year that will be a middle-distance type. He is a horse that I do feel a mile-and-a-quarter will be well within his compass and I personally think he will appreciate going a mile-and-a-half. He is a Dubawi and, as we know with those middle-distance Dubawis, you can't force them too much in the spring of their 3-year-old career, so therefore something like the [G2] Dante might be a target for him. We will see where we are in the spring, but we have a long winter ahead of us now. It is nice to be able to put these horses to bed on the back of an impressive victory.”
Pedigree Notes
Ancient Wisdom, full to a weanling colt and half to a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire), is the third of five foals and one of two scorers produced by G3 Prix Minerve winner Golden Valentine (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself one of seven stakes performers out of G3 Prix Cleopatre victrix Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon). Golden Valentine's siblings include her G3 Prix du Lys-winning full-brother Goldwaki (Ger), GIII Robert J Frankel S. victrix and GI Rodeo Drive S. runner-up Luck (Kitten's Joy) and the dam of G3 Prix Vanteaux winner and GI E P Taylor S. third Platane (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Gold Round, in turn, is a half-sister to storied multiple champion and three-time GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), G1 Prix Vermeille victrix Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) and multiple Group 1-placed sire Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa). Golden Valentine was a €520,000 purchase at Arqana's 2012 December Broodmare sale.
Third to subsequent G1 scorer Rosallion last time out, the exciting Ancient Wisdom (Dubawi) is all class for team @godolphin in the G3 @emirates Autumn Stakes 🚀 pic.twitter.com/N169vzyfmd
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 14, 2023
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
EMIRATES AUTUMN S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-14, 2yo, 8fT, 1:37.92, sf.
1–ANCIENT WISDOM (FR), 129, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Golden Valentine (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $125,200), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Gold Round (Ire), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Born Gold, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star. (€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $60,512. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Chief Little Rock (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Amicus (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £12,900.
3–Ambiente Friendly (Ire), 129, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Roxity (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (25,000gns RNA Ylg '22 TATOCT; 80,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-The Gredley Family; B-Al Shira'aa Farms SARL (IRE); T-James Fanshawe. £6,456.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1 3/4, 5. Odds: 2.00, 3.50, 16.00.
Also Ran: Orne (Ire), Per Contra (Ire), Arabic Legend (Ire), Starliner (Ire).
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