By Sean Cronin
The Rogues Gallery's Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Hawaafez {GB}, by Nayef), who was plucked from the Shadwell operation for 35,000gns as an unraced 2-year-old at last year's Tattersalls December Mares sale, graduated over 10 furlongs in an Apr. 24 Wetherby maiden and punched her ticket to Epsom's June 3 G1 Cazoo Oaks with a narrow victory in Saturday's Listed SBK Oaks Trial at Lingfield. The February-foaled bay has yet to be entered for next month's Classic and connections are keen to stump up the £30,000 supplementary fee for the privilege. Settled off the pace in sixth for the most part, the 15-2 chance was coaxed forward once into the home straight and was unrelenting under a drive inside the final quarter mile to nail the pacesetting Mystic Wells (Kitten's Joy) by a head on the line for a career high. Coolmore and Westerberg's 5-6 favorite Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) raced prominently and threatened in the straight, but faded late to finish fifth.
“She's by the right sire and we decided, before coming here, that if she won she would be added to the Oaks field,” explained trainer Tom Clover. “She's still green and has improved with each piece of work. I actually feel a little guilty about asking her to go to Epsom, but we have to go. She's just flourished and I hope she can continue to progress. The owners [Rogues Gallery] are great sporting people, who absolutely adore it. Whether it's an owners' event or a day trip to watch the horses, their enthusiasm is boundless.” Winning rider Jack Mitchell added, “She was rolling about a bit coming down the hill, but once she levelled out she was strong right the way to the line.”
Rogue Millennium becomes the first black-type winner for G3 Cumberland Lodge S. victrix Hawaafez (GB) (Nayef), herself the leading performer bred from Merayaat (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Merayaat's second dam Wedding Bouquet (Ire) (Kings Lake) scored twice at pattern-race level, namely the G3 Park S. and GIII Monrovia H., and also ran second in both G1 Phoenix S. and G1 National S. during her juvenile campaign. Wedding Bouquet is kin to G1 Epsom Derby hero Generous (Ire) (Caerleon {GB}) and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself the dam of five pattern-race winners headed by G1 Grand Criterium victor Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill) and G1 Criterium International winner Van Gogh (American Pharoah). Wedding Bouquet is also the granddam of MG1SW distaffer and three-time G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Hawaafez has a 2-year-old filly by Awtaad (Ire) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) to come.
Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
SBK OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' S.-Listed, £43,000, Lingfield, 5-7, 3yo, f, 11f 133yT, 2:28.80, g/f.
1–ROGUE MILLENNIUM (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hawaafez (GB) (GSW-Eng, $111,512), by Nayef
2nd Dam: Merayaat (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Maddelina (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (35,000gns 2yo '21 TATMA). O-The Rogues Gallery; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover; J-Jack Mitchell. £24,716. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $36,889.
2–Mystic Wells, 128, f, 3, Kitten's Joy–Cat On a Tin Roof, by Catienus. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; 77,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Mr & Mrs R Scott & Mr & Mrs D Bevan; B-Kenneth L Ramsey & Sarah K Ramsey (KY); T-George Boughey. £9,378.
3–Makinmedoit (Ire), 128, f, 3, Golden Horn (GB)–Tranquil Star (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (10,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRG). O-Robert Levitt & Anthony Bromley; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Harry Eustace. £4,691.
Margins: HD, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.50, 4.50, 16.00.
Also Ran: Belt Buckle (GB), Emily Dickinson (Ire), Three Priests (Jpn), Nikhi (GB), Suzy's Shoes (GB). Scratched: Speak (GB).
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