By Tom Frary
Relishing the step up to an extended 11 furlongs on Saturday, Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}–Roxity {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) gave the Gredleys something to dream about over the next three weeks with a power-packed display in Lingfield's Listed Derby Trial. Keen initially for Callum Shepherd before enjoying cover behind the early leaders, the 8-1 shot moved to the front with two furlongs to race and left his rivals for dead from there. At the line, the James Fanshawe-trained 80,000gns Craven Breeze-Up purchase who had been fourth in the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket last month had 4 1/2 lengths to spare over Ballydoyle's 6-4 favourite Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
“I was so impressed with that, I can't put it into words,” Shepherd said. “He used to be very keen and could get lit up, but with the ring bit he was so more manageable. When he went for home, he was relentless. What a wonderful dress rehearsal for Epsom.”
Tom Fanshawe added, “He's hopefully an exciting horse. We don't get many horses that head for the Derby, but thanks to Mr Gredley it looks as if we do now. He's always been a nice mover and everything he does is effortless. We know Charlie Appleby and Aidan will have contenders, but we feel we have every right to be there.”
Kevin Buckley, UK representative for Coolmore, said of the second and fourth, “Illinois will improve a lot for this experience as he's a full-bother to Venice Beach, but I like the way Declan [McDonogh]'s horse [The Euphrates] stayed on after being well back at the top of the hill.”
The dam, a full-sister to the listed-placed Fastnet Mist (Ire) and a half to the Listed Newmarket S. runner-up Walkinthesand (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), is a granddaughter of Wannabe (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) whose four black-type winners are headed by the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Wannabe Grand (Ire) (Danehill) and the G3 Ballycorus S. scorer Wannabe Better (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). The latter is in turn the dam of the GII Sheepshead Bay S. winner and GI Belmont Oaks Invitational third Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G3 Darley S. winner Lady Wannabe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Roxity's 2-year-old colt by Blue Point (Ire) is named Source Code (Fr), while she also has a colt foal by Ghaiyyath (Ire).
From 100/1 to as short as 8/1 for the Derby!
No catching Ambiente Friendly as he wins the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes at @LingfieldPark for @CallumSheppy and @james_fanshawe… pic.twitter.com/hWEQt7KoGe
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 11, 2024
Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
WILLIAM HILL LINGFIELD DERBY TRIAL S.-Listed, £60,000, Lingfield, 5-11, 3yo, c/g, 11f 133yT, 2:24.09, gd.
1–AMBIENTE FRIENDLY (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Roxity (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Masseera (Ire), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Wannabe (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (25,000gns RNA Ylg '22 TATOCT; 80,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-The Gredley Family; B-Al Shira'aa Farms SARL (IRE); T-James Fanshawe; J-Callum Shepherd. £34,488. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 4-2-0-1, $64,628.
2–Illinois (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £13,086.
3–Meydaan (Ire), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Nezwaah (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £6,546.
Margins: 4HF, 3 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 8.00, 1.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: The Euphrates (GB), Salamanca (GB), Imperial Sovereign (Ire), Defiance (Ire), Arabic Legend (Ire), At Vimeiro (Ger).
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