Dubawi's Lead Artist Makes All For Thoroughbred Stakes Triumph at Goodwood

Juddmonte's homebred 3-year-old Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Obligate {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) hit the board behind the reopposing Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in last month's Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket and made a smooth transition up to pattern-race level with a polished display in Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood.

The John and Thady Gosden trainee, sent postward at odds of 9-2, was swiftly into stride from the inside gate and gained an immediate lead. Unflustered on the front end shaken up with 2 1/2 furlongs remaining, he surged clear approaching the furlong pole and was driven out in the closing stages to hold the late bid of King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by 3/4-of-a-length for a career high. The winner's fellow Juddmonte representative Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}) kept on well inside the final quarter-mile and finished a half-length further adrift in third for the Ralph Beckett stable.

“I think the ground was a bit too soft at Newmarket last time and he possibly needed the run too,” reflected rider Kieran Shoemark after registering a 500th career success. “He's always been talented, he has come on for that last run and the quick ground today has certainly suited. When he won at York [in May] I thought that he was quite special, so it's nice to see him get his Group-race success today. He's still very unexposed, he's a lightly raced three-year-old and the future is bright. I've had a bit of a stop-start career so I wouldn't be gloating about it, but it's a nice milestone to reach. Juddmonte are one of the most important owner-breeders in the industry and they have a lot of horses in with John and Thady so it's important to ride them winners.”

John Gosden added, “When you're drawn one here and the cutaway has gone, you better get out and get a position. It's the easiest place to get boxed in, but he controlled the race and dominated it very well. He didn't like that ground at Newmarket as it was too soft. Hopefully he's good enough to come back for the [G2] Celebration Mile here. He missed all of last year, he started first time out this year in the Wood Ditton and he's very much a horse on an upward curve. The good thing is you've got August, September and October and there's plenty of racing to come. Time will tell, but if he gets better and better he'll be a lovely four-year-old.”

Ralph Beckett, trainer of both second and third, said, “I'm delighted with both of them. I think King's Gamble is still learning on the job. It's only his fifth start, he's run on conventional tracks so far and to come here is a test. From his draw [in eight] he had to drop in. He rolled around coming down the hill and finished really well. Task Force looks like he's back on track. I think the tongue strap encourages him to breathe properly and he enjoyed being ridden like that. I'd say one of them will show up in the Celebration Mile, one or both. Other than that, I'm not sure.”

Lead Artist gets to the front under @KShoemark and leads them all the way home, taking the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes for the Gosden yard!@bonhams1793 | @thadygosden pic.twitter.com/To6Sj82aSO

— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) August 2, 2024

Pedigree Notes
Lead Artist is the first of four, and one of two surviving, foals thrown by G2 Prix de Sandringham victrix and G1 Prix Rothschild third Obligate (GB) (Frankel {GB}), herself a granddaughter of storied blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is a full-sister to a weanling filly. Hasili's honour roll includes a quintet of elite-level winners, namely Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), Cacique (Ire) (Danehill), Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill), Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill) and Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert). She is also the dam of the Group 1-placed duo Dansili (GB) (Danehill) and Deluxe (Storm Cat).

Friday, Goodwood, Britain
BONHAMS THOROUGHBRED STAKES-G3, £100,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo, 8fT, 1:35.82, g/f.
1–LEAD ARTIST (GB), 129, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Obligate (GB) (GSW & G1SP-Fr, $167,084), by Frankel (GB)
2nd Dam: Responsible (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
3rd Dam: Hasili (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Kieran Shoemark. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $112,347. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–King's Gamble (Ire), 129, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Zondaq, by Bernardini. (190,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Clipper; B-Centerville Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £21,500.
3–Task Force (GB), 129, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Special Duty (GB), by Hennessy. TDN Rising Star. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £10,760.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 7.50, 4.50.
Also Ran: Boiling Point (Ire), Dancing Gemini (Ire), Al Musmak (Ire), Socialite (Ire), Atlantic Coast (Ire), Native American (Ire). Scratched: Ice Max (GB).