By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's 3-year-old distaffer Eternal Pearl (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Pearly Steph {Fr} {SW-Fr}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) has gone from strength to strength since failing to contend with Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Goodwood's May 20 Listed Height Of Fashion S. and remained upwardly mobile with an impressive tally in Friday's G3 Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai S. at Newmarket.
The July 16 Listed Aphrodite Fillies' S. and Aug. 14 G3 Prix Minerve victrix broke from the gates as the 6-4 favourite and employed patient tactics in rear through the midway point of this 12-furlong launchpad. Sent forward inside the last half-mile, she quickened in style to initiate her pursuit of Peripatetic (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) approaching the final furlong and bounded beyond that rival on the climb to the line for a 3/4-length success and a career high. Sea Silk Road kept on in the closing stages to finish 3 1/2 lengths further adrift in third.
“She's a typical Frankel, she stays for fun and what we've done is let her develop to allow her to do what she is doing now,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “She stays well and, when she hit the rising ground, she quickened visibly. It was always our idea to get some more confidence into her and we missed the [Sept. 11 G1] Prix Vermeille to wait for this and then go [G1 British Champions] Fillies & Mares [at Ascot].”
Eternal Pearl is the third of four reported foals and one of two scorers from as many runners produced by Listed Prix des Lilas victrix Pearly Steph, herself a daughter of G3 Dirk Elbers-Preis winner Pearl Banks. Pearl Banks is out of G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Pearly Shells, herself a half-sister to GI Hollywood Turf Cup-winning sire Frenchpark (GB) (Fools Holme). Pearl Banks's trio of black-type winners is completed by G1 Matron S. heroine Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G3 Grosser Preis der Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung victrix Lucky Lycra (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}). The April-foaled bay is half to a weanling colt by Belardo (Ire).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
PRINCESS ROYAL AL BASTI EQUIWORLD, DUBAI S.-G3, £80,000, Newmarket, 9-23, 3yo/up, f, 12fT, 2:31.68, gd.
1–ETERNAL PEARL (GB), 127, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Pearly Steph (Fr) (SW-Fr), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Pearl Banks (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Pearly Shells (GB), by Efisio (GB)
(700,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £45,368. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 7-4-1-1, $148,835. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Peripatetic (GB), 124, f, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–Dublino, by Lear Fan. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Roger Varian. £17,200.
3–Sea Silk Road (Ire), 124, f, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Oriental Magic (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). (190,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas. £8,608.
Margins: 3/4, 3HF, 2. Odds: 1.50, 8.50, 2.50.
Also Ran: Poptronic (GB), Quenelle d'Or (GB), Queen Of The Skies (GB), Voodoo Queen (GB), Royal Scandal (GB).
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