By Tom Frary
Making light work of Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity S. at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Minding {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) continued the golden spell of the yard's 2-year-olds in 2023. Backed into 2-9 favouritism, the son of the brilliant 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine who had opened his account in style over this course and seven-furlong distance last month tracked the ultimately-disappointing Spanish Flame (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) until taking command 2 1/2 out under Ryan Moore. Chased to the line by Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), he had two lengths to spare over that Joseph O'Brien trainee at the line, with three lengths back to fellow Rosegreen runner Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third.
🔥 HENRY LONGFELLOW 🔥
The superbly-bred Henry Longfellow is way too strong for his rivals in the G2 Futurity Stakes @curraghrace.
Where does this colt rank among Aidan O'Brien's two-year-olds?@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/cU7D2x3kFp
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 19, 2023
“It was a very good race today and there was a good solid pace,” Aidan O'Brien said after welcoming a 16th Futurity winner which ties him on the record with the late Dr Vincent O'Brien. “He looks a very smart colt and the plan was to come here today and then the [G1] Dewhurst. He would have learned plenty, he had to travel at a solid pace and quicken and Ryan taught him a lot. They won't go much quicker than that in any Dewhurst. He's not short of pace, but Dubawis do stay and his mother was very unusual as she won group ones from a mile all the way to a mile and a half. City Of Troy is coming here for the National and they are going different ways–they haven't been put together yet at home, so I'm not sure what's between them. I'm not sure they will be unless the lads say so.”
Pedigree Notes
Henry Longfellow is the second foal out of the aforementioned Minding, whose seven victories at the top level included a Moyglare Stud S. and Pretty Polly S. at this venue and a G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Her dam Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) produced four pattern-race winners by Galileo including last year's Oaks and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Tuesday (Ire) and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Empress Josephine (Ire). Lillie Langtry, who was successful in the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S., hails from the family of the sires Great Commotion and Lead On Time. Minding's yearling is a full-sister to Henry Longfellow, while she also has a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD WOOTTON BASSETT IRISH EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND FUTURITY S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 8-19, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.44, g/y.
1–HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minding (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Ire, $3,213,340), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $91,410. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Islandsinthestream (Ire), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–A Mist Opportunity (Aus), by Foxwedge (Aus).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€135,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-Islandsinthestream Partnership; B-Haras d'Etreham & Katelanis Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €24,000.
3–Portland (Ire), 131, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Zagitova (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 2, 3, 5. Odds: 0.22, 6.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: Spanish Flame (Ire), Courageous Strike (GB).
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