By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's €600,000 Arqana August purchase Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Dubai Rose {GB}, by Dubai Destination) shaped with promise when third over seven furlongs at Sandown in his July 7 debut and graduated with a two-length tally over that course and distance towards the end of last month. Stalking the tempo in second through halfway in this black-type bow, the 85-40 second choice was pushed to the front soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and driven clear in the latter stages to comfortably outpoint 'TDN Rising Star' Arabic Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 2 1/4 lengths. Long-time leader Son (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) kept on well once headed and finished 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third.
Arabian Crown is the third straight winner of the contest for Godolphin and follows in the steps of subsequent GI Summer S. victor Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G3 Zetland S. victor Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). He is set to follow the latter's lead and target next month's G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket. It was also a maiden win for rider William Buick, who said, “It was a nice, even gallop throughout, it suited him and it was a very fair race for everybody. It was a lovely performance and he's just gone from strength to strength. He was very professional and he's really learned from his last two runs. He broke well, he dropped his head and he was progressive all the way to the line. He was strong at the finish and I'm sure, next year, he'll get further. He has every reason to improve again and it'd be nice to have something like the Royal Lodge in mind for him.”
Arabian Crown, the latest of nine foals, is one of seven scorers produced by Listed Kolner Stuten-Trophy victrix Dubai Rose (GB) (Dubai Destination), herself a half-sister to G2 Pretty Polly S. victrix Hanami (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and Listed Grosser Dresdner Sachsischer Herbst Preis winner Soho Rose (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}). Soho Rose, in turn, is the dam of G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G3 Bahrain Trophy victor Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the Group 3-placed Dean Street Doll (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The February-foaled bay is a full-brother to the stakes-winning Everest Rose (GB) and a half to MGSW G1 Prix Vermeille third The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) and the dual stakes-placed Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Three and easy for Charlie Appleby and @godolphin in the @IrishEBF_ Stonehenge Stakes @salisburyraces 👀
Appleby brings up the hat-trick in the Listed heat with Arabian Crown and could now head for the Royal Lodge @NewmarketRace – like last year's winner Flying Honours 🔵 pic.twitter.com/w2LUs1Cf30
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 16, 2023
Wednesday, Salisbury, Britain
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF STONEHENGE S.-Listed, £40,000, Salisbury, 8-16, 2yo, 8fT, 1:42.59, gd.
1–ARABIAN CROWN (FR), 129, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Dubai Rose (GB) (SW-Ger), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: Russian Rose (Ire), by Soviet Lad
3rd Dam: Thornbeam, by Beldale Flutter
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€600,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-GB Partnership (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $38,118. *1/2 to The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), MGSW & G1SP-Fr, $554,634; Everest Rose (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW-Ger; and Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SP-Eng & Ire.
2–Arabic Legend (Ire), 129, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Sheikha Reika (Fr), by Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £8,600.
3–Son (GB), 129, c, 2, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Mia Diletta (GB), by Selkirk. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (90,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE). O-Mrs J Wood; B-Scuderia Blueberry SRL (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £4,304.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 2.13, 1.63, 6.50.
Also Ran: Metallo (Ire), Quatre Bras (Ire), Spanish Poet (Fr), Lightning Leo (GB).
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