First Defence's Tilsit Wins The Summer Mile

There was very little on form between the main protagonists for Saturday's G2 Summer Mile at Ascot, but one who did have some play in his profile was Tilsit (First Defence) and the Juddmonte homebred duly made that class edge tell to prevail for a career-best success. Last seen finishing a head second to Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over an extra furlong and 55 yards at ParisLongchamp May 30, the 4-1 favourite followed Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) wide of the other runners throughout the early stages and stuck close as that stalwart kicked for home at the top of the straight. Taking until the furlong pole to master his veteran rival, the homebred who had won last year's G3 Thoroughbred S. at this trip was driven out by Kieran Shoemark to score by a 3/4 of a length, with Al Suhail (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a length behind in third. “I felt we won quite cosily and he possibly wasn't doing a whole lot in front, but that's just him–he doesn't show much at home,” the jockey said. “Even cantering to the start, he was looking at everything. He's still relatively unexposed, so I think he can continue to progress.”

Despite the substandard nature of the opposition, very few horses can win a novice race by 19 lengths as Tilsit did on Newcastle's Tapeta last June and his next start saw him beat My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Goodwood's Thoroughbred S. at the end of July. Fourth on his 3-year-old finale in the G2 Joel S. at Newmarket in September, the homebred was sent to Riyadh for the Feb. 20 Neom Turf Cup but could manage only fifth in that 10 1/2-furlong contest prior to his European comeback when again in front of My Oberon but behind Skalleti in the Prix d'Ispahan. This puts the winner in the mix for the July 28 G1 Sussex S. and Shoemark thinks the race could suit. “When they set off into group 1 company again, I think the tempo of races are just run that little bit quicker and you can ride a little bit more efficient race,” he said. “He's won at Goodwood before last year and I do think he's better on quick ground too. He's an exciting prospect.” Charlie Hills's assistant Jamie Insole told the Racing Post, “You'd have to face Palace Pier, but every horse is beatable and Tilsit won at Glorious Goodwood last year, so likes the track.”

Tilsit is the first foal out of the once-raced Multilingual (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who hails from one of the finest families in the world of breeding. She is out of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zenda (GB) (Zamindar), responsible for the brilliant four-times group 1-winning Irish 2000 Guineas hero and prominent sire Kingman (GB), the G3 Tercentenary S.-winning Remote (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the G3 Cumberland Lodge S. third First Eleven (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Also the second dam of the Listed Carnarvon S. winner and G2 Gimcrack S. third Repartee (Ire) by Kingman's sire Invincible Spirit (Ire), the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen runner-up Fajjaj (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and the G3 Musidora S. third Ricetta (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Zenda is a half to the triple group 1-winning July Cup hero and leading sire Oasis Dream (GB) whose son Native Trail (GB) was flying his flag in the G2 Superlative S. on the big sprint's undercard on this afternoon.

The fourth dam is the matriarch Bahamian (Ire) (Mill Reef), producer of the G1 Irish Oaks winner Wemyss Bight (GB) who was in turn responsible for the four-times top-level winner Beat Hollow (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Also connected to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the star stayers Reefscape (GB) (Linamix {Fr}), Coastal Path (GB) (Halling) and Martaline (GB) (Linamix {Fr}), Multilingual has the unraced 3-year-old gelding Bilingual (English Channel), a 2-year-old colt by Kitten's Joy named Polyglot, a yearling filly by Noble Mission (GB) and a filly foal by No Nay Never.

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
BETFRED SUMMER MILE S.-G2, £110,000, Ascot, 7-10, 4yo/up, 7f 213yT, 1:43.73, g/s.
1–TILSIT, 127, c, 4, by First Defence
1st Dam: Multilingual (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Zenda (GB), by Zamindar
3rd Dam: Hope (Ire), by Dancing Brave
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Charles Hills; J-Kieran Shoemark. £62,381. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 7-3-2-0, $234,843. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Century Dream (Ire), 127, h, 7, Cape Cross (Ire)–Salacia (Ire), by Echo of Light (GB). O-Abdulla Belhabb; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £23,650.
3–Al Suhail (GB), 127, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Shirocco Star (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (1,100,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £11,836.
Margins: 3/4, 1, NK. Odds: 4.00, 4.50, 5.00.
Also Ran: Top Rank (Ire), Haqeeqy (Ire), Regal Reality (GB), Sir Busker (Ire), Space Traveller (GB), Happy Power (Ire). Scratched: Duke of Hazzard (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.