By Alan Carasso
Godolphin's Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) became the first North American top-level winner for her superstar Banstead Manor-based stallion, overcoming an eventful start before storming home through the final furlong to prove much-the-best in the GI Natalma S. Sunday at Woodbine. With the victory, Wild Beauty earns herself a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar Nov. 5.
After sharing favoritism with Saratoga raider and chief market Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) for the bulk of the wagering, Wild Beauty tightened into 7-5 favoritism, but looked to have it all to do early on, as she first hit the left side of the gate, then was pinballed around between Royal Engagement (Palace Malice) to her inside and Baksheesh (Summer Front) to her outside, relegating her to a clear last. Asked to improve her position by Frankie Dettori after the opening quarter mile, Wild Beauty found a midfield perch passing the four-furlong pole and was put to a drive five-sixteenths of a mile from home. Swung out five or six wide into the long Woodbine straight, she gobbled up the ground to lead approaching the furlong marker and kicked home to score impressively. Pizza Bianca, the 3-1 second pick, sat a midfield trip and was stymied for a run with a furlong and a half to travel, then ran on gamely once clear to be second. Eminent Victor (Mr. Z) rallied from second-last into the lane and closed well for third in her first start for Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Louis Lazzinaro and trainer Chad Brown.
Assistant trainer Alex Merriam was not entirely confident after the break.
“Look, it was a bit of a worry,” said Merriam. “Seemed to me, when she broke on turns, she stumbled a bit. We'll have to watch it again and see what Frankie says.”
“She just backed out of that pocket,” noted Dettori. “Then for my luck, they went way too fast, and by the time we got to the quarter pole, it all just fell into my lap and she picked up really well.”
And as for a start at the Breeders' Cup?
“You rely very much on the draw, the straight is half of the size of this, so you need all the luck,” said Dettori, 14 times a winner at the Breeders' Cup. “She's definitely good enough to take part, but you need to be lucky at Del Mar.”
Wild Beauty followed the same path to Woodbine as did Godolphin's 2018 Natalma winner La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Whereas La Pelosa finished third in the Listed Star S. at Goodwood, Wild Beauty went one better in that July 22 test, chasing home hot favorite Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who subsequently cruised at long odds-on in Doncaster's G2 May Hill S. Sept. 9. Wild Beauty and La Pelosa both finished runner-up in the G3 Sweet Solera S. contested over a straight seven furlongs at Newmarket before making the trans-Atlantic journey.
Pedigree Notes:
Wild Beauty is the 19th worldwide Group 1/Grade I winner for Frankel, who has sired top-level winners now in eight countries (England, Japan, Australia, France, Ireland, UAE and Germany). She is the 25th G1/GISW out of a daughter of Cheveley Park's legendary Pivotal (GB), four of which are by Frankel (Cracksman {GB}, Hungry Heart {Aus}, Veracious {GB}).
A half-sister to 2019 G3 UAE Oaks third Swift Rose (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Wild Beauty is a maternal great-granddaughter of multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Cherokee Rose, whose six winners from 10 to race include not only GSW and G1SP Bowman (Irish River {Fr}), but also the dam of Godolphin's outstanding MG1SW highweighted stayer Mastery (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) and G1SW Kirklees (Ire) (Jade Robbery). Tulips is the dam of a full-sister to Wild Beauty foaled Feb. 28 of this year.
Sunday, Woodbine
NATALMA S.-GI, C$401,600, Woodbine, 9-19, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.08, gd.
1–WILD BEAUTY (GB), 121, f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Tulips (Ire) (SW & MGSP-Fr, $150,804), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Hint of Spring (GB), by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Cherokee Rose (Ire), by Dancing Brave
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST
GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin Racing, LLC (GB); T-Charles
Appleby; J-Lanfranco Dettori. C$240,000. Lifetime Record:
6-3-2-0, $230,477. *1/2 to Swift Rose (IRE) (Invincible Spirit
(IRE)), GSP-UAE, $135,326. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pizza Bianca, 121, f, 2, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: White Hot (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Victoress, by Conquistador Cielo
O/B-Bobby Flay (KY); T-Christophe Clement. C$80,000.
3–Eminent Victor, 121, f, 2, by Mr. Z
1st Dam: Juliet Victor, by Unusual Heat
2nd Dam: Practicaly Perfect, by Pleasantly Perfect
3rd Dam: Kelli Lee, by Kris S.
O-Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group LLC (Stuart Grant),
Louis Lazzinnaro LLC & Michael Caruso; B-Calumet Farm
(KY); T-Chad C. Brown. C$40,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.45, 3.45, 5.45.
Also Ran: Mrs. Barbara, Diabolic (Ire), Guileful, Ready Lady, Baksheesh, Royal Engagement, Cardio Princess (Jpn).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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