By Tom Frary
Further underlining the merit of last year's G1 St Leger, Juddmonte's Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) got up late to register a winning return in Saturday's G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury and enhance her claims in next month's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Demoted from second to fourth in the Doncaster Classic, which was coming up quickly after her success in York's Listed Galtres S. in August, the homebred only just made this gig after what her trainer Ralph Beckett described as a “tough Spring” and was held up behind the early leaders with Frankie Dettori keen to let her build into a steady rhythm.
Taking time to wind up, the 5-2 second favourite arrived with strength in the final 100 yards as the past TDN Rising Stars Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) duked it out. At the line, she had edged it by a short head from the Shadwell runner, with Ballydoyle's Bolshoi Ballet continuing his return to old form a head away in third. “She hasn't really thrived all Spring–she got upset when we were trying to fit the tongue-tie beforehand and wasn't having that, so I was concerned that we were in a hole,” Beckett said. “She was a little fresh and still a little green in behind horses, so she's a pretty special filly to have done that. She made up a lot of ground in the last 100 yards–when she stayed as well as she did in the Leger on only her third start and with her pedigree, I'd have no real concerns about where we go. The Gold Cup is a possibility–we'll see nearer the time. That entry was how we felt about her beforehand and we still do.”
Introduced only in late July in a Wolverhampton novice, Haskoy has gone where her talent allows the whole way and it was significant that her trainer moved so fast with her following that seven-length debut win. Impressing Ryan Moore and just about everybody else in the Galtres, the bay was supplemented to the St Leger and ran the proverbial blinder only to lose out to Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) before being stripped of second by the officials having crossed the path of Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was fifth in the Leger, had already done enough to suggest that the form was solid but it was Friday's G2 Yorkshire Cup that confirmed we are dealing with a strong renewal of the oldest Classic. More so, it looks an edition stacked with the kind of “Cup” horses that the British public have come to love once more. Only one filly has won the Gold Cup since Dr Vincent O'Brien's Gladness in 1958 and that was The Queen's Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), so it is particularly exciting that Haskoy is a leading challenger in this year's contest.
Pedigree Notes
It was on this card six years ago that the dam Natavia (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a rare purchase at that phase for the operation when a 600,000gns Book 1 graduate, powered into the Oaks picture when dominating the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial. Although she was last in that Classic and failed to win again, the memory of that performance remains vibrant and Haskoy is a significant first foal. Kin to the G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World) and to the dam of the GIII Jimmy Durante S. scorer Tezzaray (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), she is a granddaughter of the important broodmare Lady Blackfoot (Ire) (Prince Tenderfoot).
Under that third dam are the likes of the GII Budweiser International hero Alrassaam (GB) (Zafonic) and the GI Hollywood Derby-winning fellow sire Labeeb (GB) (Lear Fan) as well as the latter's GII Arlington H. and GII San Luis Obispo H.-winning full-brother Fanmore who was also runner-up in the GI Arlington Million and GI Hollywood Gold Cup. Natavia also has the 2-year-old filly Silver Sixpence (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a yearling daughter of Siyouni (Fr) and colt foal by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
AL RAYYAN S. (REGISTERED AS THE ASTON PARK S.)-G3, £100,000, Newbury, 5-20, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:32.33, gd.
1–HASKOY (GB), 125, f, 4, by Golden Horn (GB)
1st Dam: Natavia (GB) (SW-Eng), by Nathaniel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Our Queen of Kings (GB), by Arazi
3rd Dam: Lady Blackfoot (Ire), by Prince Tenderfoot
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Frankie Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $193,029. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Israr (GB), 128, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Taghrooda (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £21,500.
3–Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), 128, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Alta Anna (Fr), by Anabaa. O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £10,760.
Margins: SHD, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 7.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Yibir (GB), Kemari (GB), Old Harrovian (GB), Gaassee (Ire).
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