By Heather Anderson
Godolphin and Frankel (GB) were represented by the first two home in the AED850,000 G2 Balanchine Presented by Longines at Meydan on Friday. His ENGLISH ROSE (IRE) (f, 4, –Sobetsu {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) was 2 1/2 lengths to the good of the more fancied Sapphire Seas (GB) at the end of the 1800-metre turf affair. The final time was 1:47.64 over the good turf.
Content to race in midfield as Stenton Glider (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) battled for the lead with Shining Jewel (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) to her outside down the backstretch, the first quarter was covered in :25.03. Shining Jewel applied more pressure on the bend, while tracked by Sapphire Seas, as English Rose relaxed in fourth. The leaders looked vulnerable with a quarter-mile to travel, and English Rose was within a length and closing fast, as Sapphire Seas made her bid to her immediate left. English Rose was moving the better of the two, however, and forged to the front to win handily under Michael Barzalona. Nibras Angel (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) was third by three lengths.
“We went a good gallop and my filly travelled well from the beginning,” said Barzalona after his first win in this race. “It went well for us as the horse to beat was just in front of us. Maybe she was a bit fitter today.”
Appleby added, “Mentally she's come forward as she was a bit keen first time out. She had the race under her belt and this is probably her ideal trip.
“We haven't quite firmed up a plan for these fillies yet. This filly could join [Cape Verdi winner] Silver Lady on a trip to America for the Keeneland meet in April.”
A winner of her first two starts on turf and all-weather at Newmarket and Kempton in May of last year and November, English Rose lost her unbeaten moniker when a neck second to stablemate Silver Lady (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Cape Verdi on Jan. 19.
Pedigree Notes
The winner is the 137th stakes winner (93 group) for her Juddmonte sire. She is bred on the same Frankel–Dubawi cross as dual Group 1 winner Mostahdaf (Ire), Derby/King George victor Adayar (Ire), G1 Jebel Hatta winner Dream Castle (GB), and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Homeless Songs (Ire) to name just a few.
English Rose is a daughter of G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Sobetsu, who also ran third in the G1 Nassau S. Sobetsu's latest are a 2-year-old filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) and a yearling full-sister to the winner. Second dam Lake Toya (Darshaan {GB}) won a pair of stakes and was third in the G3 Prix de Flore. Third dam Shinko Hermes (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) is a full-sister to the G1 1000 Guineas/G1 Oaks winner Imagine and a half-sister to dual Derby (English/Irish) winner Generous (Ire) (Caerleon).
Friday, Meydan, Dubai
BALANCHINE PRESENTED BY LONGINES-G2, AE$850,000, Meydan, 2-23, 3yo/up, f/m, 9fT, 1:47.64, gd.
1–ENGLISH ROSE (IRE), 126, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sobetsu (GB) (G1SW-Fr, G1SP-Eng, $353,582),
by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lake Toya, by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Shinko Hermes (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE);
T-Charlie Appleby; J-Mickael Barzalona. AE$510,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-3-1-0, AED$771,633. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sapphire Seas (GB), 126, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Pure Diamond
(GB), by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. AE$170,000.
3–Nibras Angel (GB), 126, f, 4, Harry Angel (Ire)–Always
Thankful (GB), by Showcasing (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST
GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Saeed H Al Tayer; B-Rabbah
Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Ismail Mohammed. AE$85,000.
Margins: 2HF, 3, 1 3/4.
Also Ran: Mystic Pearl (Fr), Shining Jewel (GB), Stenton Glider (Ire), Mimi Kakushi. Click for the ERA chart and video.
🌟 A 1-2 in Gr.2 Balanchine at Meydan for world-leading sire FRANKEL (GB) 🌟
ENGLISH ROSE, who is out of Gr.1 winner SOBETSU (GB), wins in the @godolphin blue. She gives the @JuddmonteFarms stallion consecutive wins in the race after WITH THE MOONLIGHT.pic.twitter.com/JlkKr524uN
— GBRI (@GBRI_UK) February 23, 2024
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