By Sean Cronin
Richard Fahey annexed last year's 5 1/2-furlong Bristol Street Motors EBF Restricted Maiden S. at Wetherby and the trainer doubled up in the first division of this year's renewal with The Cool Silk Partnership's Yes I'm Mali (GB) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}–Yes Always {Ire}, by No Nay Never). The homebred 2-year-old colt, who overcame a slow start and trouble-in-running to prevail by a half-length, becomes the fifth winner for his Ballyhane Stud-based freshman sire (by Panis), who was nurtured by Fahey throughout his 18-race career.
1st-Wetherby, £9,000, Mdn, 6-11, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:08.16, gd.
YES I'M MALI (GB) (c, 2, Sands Of Mali {Fr}–Yes Always {Ire}, by No Nay Never), whose stablemate She's A Gambler (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) won this contest last year, was slowly into stride and tanked forward to track the leaders in a share of fifth after the opening exchanges of this debut.
Racing hard on the bridle when cruising into traffic approaching the two pole, the 9-4 favourite navigated a passage in search of an opening and unleashed a decisive burst inside the final furlong to deny Territorial Knight (GB) (Territories {Ire}) by a half-length–and value for much more–in the dying strides, becoming the fifth winner for his freshman sire (by Panis).
“He travelled well in the race, but I had to sit and wait for a bit of room,” explained rider Oisin Orr. “When we did get out I always felt like he was going to get there. I was lucky enough that he's got a change of gear and he quickened up well.”
Yes I'm Mali, kin to a yearling filly by Tasleet (GB), is the first of two foals produced by a winning half-sister to G3 Brownstown S. third Damselfly (Ire) (Power {GB}), herself the dam of two winners from as many runners. The May-foaled homebred's third dam Sanctify (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) is a daughter of the stakes-placed Litani River (Irish River {Fr}) and thus a full-sister to G3 Concorde S. victrix Psalm (Ire) and Listed Garnet S. winner Queen Titi (Ire). Queen Titi, in turn, is the dam of G1 Dewhurst S. hero Beethoven (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and Listed Navigation S. runner-up North Face (Ire) (Declaration Of War).
Yes I'm Mali retains long-range entries in Doncaster's Sept. 12 Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 S. and Redcar's Oct. 5 Listed William Hill Two Year Old Trophy. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,187.
O/B-The Cool Silk Partnership (GB); T-Richard Fahey.
' (Sands Of Mali) was green as 'owt on debut, but flies home under @OisinOrr for @CoolSilkRacing ⚪️@RichardFahey secured a four-timer @WetherbyRaces' last meeting, btw … pic.twitter.com/kidj8gUfVY
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 11, 2024
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