By Sean Cronin
Making her fourth start of the month, Nick Bradley Racing's battle-hardened bargain buy Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}–Bisous Y Besos {Ire}, by Big Bad Bob {Ire}) went postward for Wednesday's G3 Whispering Angel Oak Tree S. at Goodwood coming back off a narrow defeat in Ascot's July 23 G3 Valiant S. and pounced late to secure a second pattern-race success in the seven-furlong distaffers' test. Last year's G3 Prix Six Perfections victrix and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third snagged June's Listed Eternal S. at Carlisle before hitting the board in the July 2 Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown and the July 9 Listed City Plate S. at Chester in her penultimate start. The 10-3 favourite was swiftly into stride and raced a shade keenly early before settling into a rhythm along the rail in third. Shuffled down to fifth in the home straight, she regained ground under pressure to go second entering the final furlong and kept on relentlessly in the dying embers to nail 66-1 outsider Internationalangel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by a head on the line.
“Oscula is a real flagbearer for Nick Bradley, who is a big supporter of the yard, and she was a huge part of our team last year,” said trainer George Boughey after claiming a first Glorious Goodwood winner. “I did have my doubts about whether she would come back this year and I'm not sure how many times she's run already this year, but she's a real star and just keeps trying. My girlfriend Laura rides her out, so it is a special success. She has run four times in July and I think she is peaking here. She is by Galileo Gold, who is dear to our hearts, and it means a lot. She is remarkable and puts her weight back on within 24 hours [of racing] and she is a real star. I have her entered in a Group 3 in France in a couple of weeks, but she would have a penalty now. The long-term aim is the [G1] Prix de la Foret, as she loves soft ground.”
Runner-up Internationalangel's rider Adam Kirby commented, “I thought I had put it to bed, but I just bumped into one on the day. She is a very special filly for the owner [Laurence Holder] and for the yard. She has run with full credit. She had a long winter on the All-Weather, but she has had a break and is in very capable hands, so hopefully she keeps on improving.”
Reflecting on the performance of Samahram, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said, “I thought Samahram would have enough pace to use her good draw [in five], but she could not keep her position. When I saw where she was, I thought she needed a lot of luck in running. I knew she had the quality to quicken, but Frankie [Dettori] said he got stopped twice. You come here and want to win, she is a nice filly and that is the most important thing. I really like this place and really want to win a race here. We need luck and she will have her day.”
Oscula, kin to the unraced 2-year-old colt Apex (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Prince Of Lir (Ire), is the second of four foals and lone performer out of a half-sister to Listed Silken Glider S. and Listed Rothesay S. placegetter Coeur d'Amour (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Descendants of her multiple-winning third dam Refined (Ire) (Statoblest {Ire}) include G2 Mill Reef S. scorer and G1 Golden Jubilee S. second Galeota (Ire) (Mujadil), last term's G2 Mill Reef S. winner Wings Of War (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), dual Group 3 scorer Brown Sugar (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), G3 Sirenia S. victor Burnt Sugar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and stakes-winning G3 Prix de Cabourg second Darkanna (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
WHISPERING ANGEL OAK TREE S.-G3, £80,000, Goodwood, 7-27, 3yo/up, f, 7fT, 1:25.64, g/f.
1–OSCULA (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Galileo Gold (GB)
1st Dam: Bisous Y Besos (Ire), by Big Bad Bob (Ire)
2nd Dam: Adoring (Ire), by One Cool Cat
3rd Dam: Refined (Ire), by Statoblest (Ire)
(4,000gns Ylg '20 TATOC). O-Nick Bradley Racing 20; B-Padraig Williams (IRE); T-George Boughey; J-William Buick. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 17-5-3-6, $338,598. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Internationalangel (Ire), 131, m, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Wrong Answer (GB), by Verglas (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (110,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT; £8,000 3yo '20 GOFSPT; 19,000gns RNA HRA '21 TATHRA). O-Laurence Holder; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & Castlemartin Sky (IRE); T-Jane Chapple-Hyam. £17,200.
3–Samahram (Fr), 124, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Djumama (Ire), by Aussie Rules. (€160,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Stall Phillip I (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. £8,608.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.33, 66.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Hello You (Ire), Primo Bacio (Ire), Symphony Perfect (Ire), Bounce The Blues (Ire), Heredia (GB), Allayaali (Ire), Roman Mist (Ire), Soft Whisper (Ire), She Do (GB), Honey Sweet (Ire), Miss Carol Ann (Ire), Happy Craf (Arg). Scratched: Improvised (Ire), Benefit (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
💪 William Buick does it again
He steers Oscula to a thrilling win in the £80,000 Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes for @gbougheyracing @Goodwood_Races @NBradleyRacing pic.twitter.com/p2qHVE29h7
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 27, 2022
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