By Sean Cronin
Karl Burke notched an exacta in last term's Listed Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies' S. at York and repeated the dose when once-raced winner Got To Love A Grey (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Regatta {Fr}, by Layman) outlasted stablemate Dorothy Lawrence (GB) (Soldier's Call) in this year's renewal of the straight five-furlong dash.
Got To Love A Grey went postward as the 5-2 second choice, coming back off a six-length tally at Nottingham last month, and broke sharply from the far-side stall to seize an immediate lead. Unflustered on the front end until shaken up at the quarter-mile marker, she was tackled by Dorothy Lawrence approaching the final furlong and kept on in resolute fashion to keep her perfect record intact. She held a half-length buffer at the line with the same margin back to Gaiden (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in third.
“It's been a frustrating week, we've had about five seconds and picked up nearly £100,000 in two days, all without having a winner,” reflected Burke. “I thought the second filly would be the winner, she's very quick and she travelled very strong there, but didn't quite see it out as well as the winner. Take nothing away from the winner though, she's so honest and such a lovely filly.” Looking ahead to Royal Ascot targets, the trainer added, “It'll be the [G2] Queen Mary or the [G3] Albany for the winner. She's shown us, on a fast track, that she's quick enough and you need to stay well at Ascot so it probably makes sense to go for the Queen Mary. I'd be quite happy to send Dorothy Lawrence [to Royal Ascot] as well. Ryan [Moore] thought we should give her a chance, so we'll see.”
Got To Love A Grey is the sixth of seven reported foals and the leading performer, from four winners, produced by Listed Prix des Sablonnets and Listed Prix des Lilas victrix Regatta (Fr) (Layman), herself a granddaughter of G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner and G1 Prix Royal-Oak third Robertet (Roberto). Robertet produced G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Punctilious (GB) (Danehill), three-time Group 3 winner Risk Seeker (GB) (Elmaamul) and Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie victrix Redwood Falls (Ire) (Dancing Brave). Punctilious, in turn, is the dam of G3 Autumn S. victor Military March (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), G2 Hanshin Daishoten third Namura Donovan (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}) and G3 Vintage Crop S. third Clongowes (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Regatta has a yearling filly by Bated Breath (GB) to come.
Friday, York, Britain
CLIPPER EBF MARYGATE FILLIES' S.-Listed, £70,000, York, 5-19, 2yo, f, 5fT, :58.22, g/f.
1–GOT TO LOVE A GREY (GB), 126, f, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Regatta (Fr) (MSW-Fr, $104,877), by Layman
2nd Dam: Red Star (Ire), by Lure
3rd Dam: Robertet, by Roberto
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (52,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Middleham Park Racing CXXI; B-Regatta Partnership (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Sam James. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $53,892.
2–Dorothy Lawrence (GB), 126, f, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Festoso (Ire), by Diesis (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Clipper Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke. £15,050.
3–Gaiden (Ire), 126, f, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Silque (GB), by Aqlaam (GB). (£65,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Martin Hughes & Michael Kerr-Dineen; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £7,532.
Margins: HF, HF, 2. Odds: 2.50, 9.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Persian Dreamer, Miss Woo Woo (GB), Tierney (Ire), Beenham (Ire), Bellarchi (Ire), Treasure Storm (Ire). Scratched: Callianassa (Ire).
True, isn't it?
Got To Love A Grey (Dark Angel) remains unbeaten and lands Listed honours, leading home a 1-2 for @karl_burke in the Clipper @BritishEBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes 🏇 @yorkracecourse @MprUpdates pic.twitter.com/ezbuSj0Ed2
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 19, 2023
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