Providing another boost to the form of the July 10 G2 Duchess of Cambridge S., Santosha (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) stepped up to capture Sunday's G3 Princess Margaret Betfred S. at Ascot and provide her Rathasker Stud-based first-season sire with his initial black-type winner. Sent off at 5-1 coming off a third placing behind the G3 Albany S. scorer Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and the subsequent Listed Star S. winner Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) in that contest at Newmarket's July festival, the bay was reserved off the early pace by Thomas Greatrex and delivered to lead approaching the final furlong. Despite veering left in the closing stages, she was always doing enough to hold Hala Hala Hala (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) by 3/4 of a length, with the winner's stablemate Caroline Dale (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) the same margin behind in third. Trainer David Loughnane was enjoying his red-letter day. “It's great to have my first group winner at Ascot. It's the Mecca, isn't it, everyone wants to train winners here,” he commented. “We work very hard and we have had a lot of luck along the way, but it's the icing on the cake that our first group winner is here.”
Santosha, the sole progeny out of a relative of Gold Academy (Ire) who captured the Listed Strensall S. and was third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and G1 St. James's Palace S., went up against Dandalla and co as the 50-1 winner of a six-furlong median auction novice at Lingfield June 26. Also 50-1 there, she got within 3/4 of a length of a major upset and could arguably have been closer had the winner not veered across her path late on. Staying true to Thomas Greatrex, Loughnane's decision was rewarded by a ride belying a lack of experience in this company as Santosha was guided to a breakthrough success. The occasion was not lost on the jockey, who said, “It is what we work towards. It is something I never really thought I would be doing and it's great to get the opportunity from Dave and the team at home support me a lot, so it's great to give them a group winner. We got a lovely run into the race and she has really stuck her head down and galloped. She got a bit lonely in front in the end, but she was brilliant. Stepping up in trip will be no problem at all–she stayed really well. I was running in snatches during the race, but once I got hold of her at the two-furlong pole she actually went down a gear and took off.”
Loughnane was celebrating a rare first and third in Pattern company for a lesser-known trainer, with Caroline Dale holding on for third having forced the pace. “I sat on them both Wednesday or Thursday morning and I told both owners I wouldn't be able to split them,” he added. “Caroline Dale's run a blinder. She has got headed and she has stayed on and galloped all the way to the line. She is a very tough filly and has got so much speed. Hindsight's a great thing and maybe we should have gone for the [G3] Molecomb Stakes [at Goodwood], but this felt like the right race. She will have her day. The ground was probably quick enough for Santosha. The race ran to suit her just a little bit better.”
“Santosha should never have been the price she was–my surname might have something to do with it, but we are looking to change that. She was still a touch green today, but she is a very progressive filly and we've got a lot to look forward to. I think she will probably be a nicer filly next year, stepping her up to seven furlongs and a mile. She travels so sweetly, she never overdoes herself. She does what you want her to do and is push-button. Today was the plan, but the [G2] Lowther [at York] would have to be one of the next on her list. There are quite a few options in France for her. The owners, Susan and Paddy Lynas, mentioned the [G1] Cheveley Park Stakes after she ran in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and if she keeps going in the right direction, that's where we will be.”
Sunday, Ascot, Britain
PRINCESS MARGARET BETFRED S.-G3, £30,000, Ascot, 7-26, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:14.53, gd.
1–SANTOSHA (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Coulsty (Ire)
1st Dam: Princess Zoffany (Ire), by Zoffany (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tara Gold (Ire), by Royal Academy
3rd Dam: Soha, by Dancing Brave
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Ms S Lynas; B-Paddy Murray (IRE); T-David Loughnane; J-Thomas Greatrex. £17,013. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $32,431. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hala Hala Hala (Ire), 126, f, 2, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Hala Hala (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (50,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA). O-Mr Sultan Ali; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £6,450.
3–Caroline Dale (GB), 126, f, 2, Lethal Force (Ire)–Stepping Out (Ire), by Tagula (Ire). O-Janet Lowe 1; B-The Lowe Family (GB); T-David Loughnane. £3,228.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, NO. Odds: 5.00, 7.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Isabella Giles (Ire), On My Way (GB), More Beautiful, Chocoya (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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