By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Futurity Trophy hero Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) had yet to fire on all cylinders this year and bounced back from an eighth in last month's G1 Derby to regain the winning thread in Thursday's G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.
The 6-4 favourite went forward to assume control after the initial strides of this 13-furlong test. Holding sway thereafter, he was asked to stretch with three furlongs remaining and kept finding for pressure inside the final quarter-mile to comfortably hold Royal Supremacy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths.
“We were quietly confident as he was the class horse in the race and was racing on ground that we know he relishes,” admitted Charlie Appleby. “No disrespect to the horses he has been campaigning against, but this horse takes it to another level on slower conditions. We encountered that today and felt the step up in trip was always going to suit. The plan from here is to head to the [G2 Great] Voltigeur [at York], if the ground is right, and plan our way to the [G1] St Leger [at Doncaster]. He is an autumn horse and we won't jeopardise that by running him on unsuitable ground. I still feel this horse is not 100 per cent there yet, but he is coming. He isn't where he was when he won the Autumn Stakes and backed up two weeks' later in the Futurity last season, so I was impressed with him today and hoping that there is still improvement under the bonnet. If the ground is like it can be at that time of year at Doncaster then I think he would have a very live chance.”
Pedigree Notes
Ancient Wisdom, full to a yearling colt and half to a 2-year-old 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 Stakes runner-up Luck (Kitten's Joy) and the dam of G3 Prix Vanteaux winner and GI E P Taylor Stakes 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).
The Trophy hunter
Charlie Appleby wins the £200,000 Group 3 @BahrainTurfClub Trophy for the third time in four years as bags career win number 5⃣ @godolphin | @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/iXRY1Oqtib
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2024
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
BAHRAIN TROPHY S.-G3, £200,000, Newmarket, 7-11, 3yo, 13fT, 2:49.90, g/s.
1–ANCIENT WISDOM (FR), 129, c, 3, 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)
TDN Rising Star. (€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods SC (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £113,420. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 8-5-1-1, $412,845. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Royal Supremacy (Ire), 129, c, 3, Make Believe (GB)–Adelasia (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB). (65,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Michael Blencowe; B-John O'Connor (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £43,000.
3–Portland (Ire), 129, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Zagitova (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,520.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.50, 4.50, 5.50.
Also Ran: Space Legend (Ire). Scratched: Kinesiology (GB).
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