By Sean Cronin
Nick Bradley Racing and Elaine Burke's Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}–White Rosa {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had twice knocked on the door as a juvenile last year and delivered a first black-type triumph, tackling his third such contest, in Monday's G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly. The Karl Burke trainee debuted with a six-furlong maiden win at Ayr in July, doubling up with an 8 1/2-length rout at Thirsk one month later, before running second in York's Aug. 19 G2 Gimcrack S. and a below-par fifth in Newmarket's Sept. 24 G1 Middle Park S. when last seen.
The well-backed 6-5 favourite broke sharply and raced on the front end from flagfall in this sophomore bow. Holding sway throughout, he was shaken up approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly under continued coaxing in the closing stages to easily hold the late threat of Irish raider Wodao (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths for a career high.
“He's a very nice horse and ran some lovely races last year, but we were a bit disappointed with his run in the Group 1,” the winning trainer said. “He was probably a little over the top at the end of a long season for him. Our horses haven't been running particularly well, we've had a bad six weeks and they're just beginning to come back now. It's a relief to get one of the good ones in and a win under our belt. He's a very good horse and will defintely come on for the run.”
Burke has prior experience of charting a passage from the Sigy to Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, via Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane, and he is eyeing the same winning path taken by former stable star Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in 2016. “He is in the [G2] Duke of York at York [in May], but he will probably go for the Sandy Lane at Haydock, which is a stepping-stone race to the Commonwealth Cup. I won this race with Quiet Reflection, then she won the Sandy Lane and then won the Commonwealth Cup. Hopefully, this fellow can take the same route.”
Pedigree Notes
Marshman, half-brother to a 2-year-old colt by Zoustar (Aus) and a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire), is the second of three foals and lone scorer produced by a winning daughter of G3 Sirenia S. victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Dhanyata (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}). Dhanyata's siblings include the stakes-placed Guinea Hunter (Ire) (Pips Pride {GB}), the dam of G2 Gran Criterium third Gerrard's Quest (GB) (Captain Gerrard {Ire}) and the second dam of G1 Irish 2000 Guineas placegetter Decrypt (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Black-type descendants of another half-sister, Miss Brief (Ire) (Brief Truce), include Listed Prix du Cercle victrix Riskit Fora Biskit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), G2 Gimcrack S. second and G2 Mill Reef S. third Crown Prosecutor (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and the Group 3-placed duo Fox Trotter (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) and Mur Hiba (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}).
Monday, Chantilly, France
PRIX SIGY-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 4-17, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:04.15, sf.
1–MARSHMAN (GB), 126, c, 3, by Harry Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: White Rosa (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Dhanyata (Ire), by Danetime (Ire)
3rd Dam: Preponderance (Ire), by Cyrano De Bergerac (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (5,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; £38,000 2yo '22 GOFTY). O-Nick Bradley Racing 2 & Mrs Elaine Burke; B-Highbank Stud LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. €40,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 5-3-1-0, €122,829. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Wodao (Fr), 126, c, 3, Showcasing (GB)–Dadao (GB), by Intello (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€150,000 Wlg '20 ARQDEC; €260,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Atlantic Thoroughbreds; B-SCEA Elevage d'Yllone (FR); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €16,000.
3–Vicious Harry (Fr), 126, c, 3, Harry Angel (Ire)–Umneeyatee (Aus), by Encosta De Lago (Aus). (€28,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT). O-Cuadra Mediterraneo; B-Medya SARL & Tarik Tekce (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €12,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.20, 3.60, 3.10.
Also Ran: *Denver Chop (Fr), *I Am Incredible (Fr), Whistle And Flute (Ire), Ciao Pa' (Fr), Disillusion (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
*Dead-heated for 4th.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
