Dubawi's Lord North Sensational In the Prince of Wales's

With Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in her box at Clarehaven, John Gosden could have been forgiven for giving up on the 2020 G1 Prince of Wales's S. but instead he unleashed a secret weapon in the hugely-progressive Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and duly collected regardless. Despite the striking manner of his success in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Haydock just 10 days previously, it was still a surprise to see that his trainer believed he was worthy of being pitched in at this level and now we know why. Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's imposing bay was the consummate professional for James Doyle throughout the early stages, cruising in rear and beginning his charge off the home turn. Storming past Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and to the front approaching the furlong pole, the 5-1 shot surged clear to beat that dual group 1 winner by a yawning 3 3/4 lengths, with Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) completing the gelding trifecta 1 1/4 lengths further behind in third.

“I think when John takes a horse into a race like this you do have to prick your ears, and he was quite unexposed,” his jockey explained. “He felt great and although we had planned to take a nice tow into the race, as the gates opened the whole complexion of the race changed. It ended up being a truly-run race which suited us perfectly and he settled beautifully out the back and saved plenty of ground up the rail. He quickened up like a really nice horse and from my point of view it felt a pretty even pace. He travelled into it great and showed a good turn of foot. I think he can continue now and be a pretty strong force in these type of races.”

Lord North demonstrated what he was capable of when scoring by 11 lengths in a two-runner Newcastle novice last April, but after his subsequent last of eight in the Listed Heron S. at Sandown the following month it was clear that he needed gelding to fully tune in to his metier. Back in early September to finish second in a Cambridgeshire warm-up over a mile here, he built on that effort later in the month when annexing Newmarket's prestigious nine-furlong contest in the style of a top-class animal. Runner-up sent back to this venue for the Balmoral H. again over a mile on Champions Day, he signed off his 3-year-old campaign with a clear-cut first black-type success in Newmarket's Listed James Seymour S. over this trip in November.

This race was marked by the sluggish start of the 6-4 favourite Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the subsequent decision by Silvestre de Sousa to cut out the running on Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Barney Roy was too fresh in behind, as was the returning Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) but Lord North was always travelling well within himself as he waited for the pace to collapse up ahead. With the main contenders fanning out across the track in the straight, the powerful bay was able to cut between rivals and at the line was the only runner moving forward with any momentum.

John Gosden's four winners of the Cambridgeshire all won group races the following season, but it was his first in 1994 that has entered immortality. Successful that year was Halling, who went on to operate as lord of the manor in Britain's main 10-furlong contests of the following two seasons. Comparison with Lord North is undeniable now and their trainer was not playing it down after this sensational display. “It does bring back memories–both this horse and Halling came through, but both had interruptions to their training careers as three-year-olds,” he said. “This one had to be gelded, as he wasn't prepared to play ball but he's the happiest fellow ever now and a great character. Testosterone is the most dangerous drug in the world and it was certainly driving him completely mad. Since he's been gelded he's a very content, still very playful horse, but he's not crazy like he used to be. We've always thought he was a very classy horse. It's taken a long time to get it out of him, but that has always been more to do with the mind than anything else.”

“Bangkok set a strong pace, it was an end-to-end gallop and he picked them off,” Gosden added. “The favourite missed the break, which muddled the race for him, but this is a proper horse. He sat out the back and won with great authority–he could have waited even longer. He has got that turn of foot, but he is quickening and those in front were tiring a bit. This mile and a quarter takes some getting from Swinley Bottom, it rises many feet.”

Gosden was not committing to putting Lord North up against Enable in the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown July 5. “I'd like to see how he comes out of this, as he was at Haydock only a few days ago and needs ot be freshened up. We'll look at all possibilities, but he's had two quick races and you have to be careful not to risk flattening them and taking that little bit of zest and energy away from them.” Longer term, Gosden has his eye on the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, for which this is a 'win and you're in race'. “He might get a mile and a half at Keeneland. I just hope it doesn't rain too much, as that track turns into a bit of a sandpit when it does,” he added.

William Haggas said of Addeybb, “I'm proud of him. He ran a great race, but he is better on softer ground. He ran terrific and tried his heart out. If I keep running him on good ground he won't keep doing that though. He has become a very high-class, consistent horse.” Charlie Appleby was happy with the effort of Barney Roy and commented, “I was pleased. He has run well and he saw the ten furlongs out well. The winner has been very impressive in the end, but you could have thrown a blanket over the rest of them. He might be a horse to go to Australia with, if we are allowed. Some of those tracks might suit him.”

Lord North is out of Najoum (Giant's Causeway), a winner at Redcar and Kempton in the Godolphin silks who is a half-sister to the GI Blue Grass S.-winning sire Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus), as well as the G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Discourse (Street Cry {Ire}) who also produced two listed winners including Discursus (GB) to a mating with Dubawi. Lord North also shares his second dam Divine Dixie (Dixieland Band) with the GI Ashland S. winner Out For a Spin (Hard Spun), while the GI Santa Anita Oaks-winning third dam Hail Atlantis (Seattle Slew) produced the sire Stormy Atlantic from a mating with Giant's Causeway's sire Storm Cat.

This is also the family of the GI Summer S. winner Decorated Invader (Declaration of War), last year's G1 Prix Saint-Alary runner-up Olendon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and the group and graded-stakes-winning half-siblinngs Atlando (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) and Incanto Dream (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Also related to the G1 Observer Gold Cup hero and sire Apalachee (Round Table), Najoum has an as-yet unnamed 3-year-old filly by Teofilo (Ire), a yearling colt by Postponed (Ire) and a filly foal by New Approach {Ire}).

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
PRINCE OF WALES'S S.-G1, £250,000, Ascot, 6-17, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:05.63, gd.
1–LORD NORTH (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Najoum, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Divine Dixie, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-James Doyle. £148,000. Lifetime Record: 9-6-2-0, $443,701. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Addeybb (Ire), 126, g, 6, Pivotal (GB)–Bush Cat, by Kingmambo. (200,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-William Haggas. £55,975.
3–Barney Roy (GB), 126, g, 6, Excelebration (Ire)–Alina (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (30,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; £70,000 Ylg '15 DNPRM). O-Godolphin; B-Eliza Park International Pty Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £27,975.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 5.00, 3.50, 8.00.
Also Ran: Japan (GB), Bangkok (Ire), Mehdaayih (GB), Headman (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.