By Sean Cronin
Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) notched a one-length tally in the 2017 renewal of Sandown's Listed Racehorse Lotto National S. and the second-crop sire left his mark on the contest once more after his Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned son Elite Status (GB) powered to a hugely impressive success in the five-furlong dash.
The 5-2 favourite had opened his account with a three-length triumph in his May 6 debut over the same trip at Doncaster and jumped to the head of ante-post betting lists for Royal Ascot's G2 Norfolk S. with a five-length rout in this return.
Elite Status was well away to track the leaders in fifth through the early stages. Taking closer order at halfway, he went through an array of gears inside the final quarter-mile and powered away from eight previous winners to secure a career high by daylight from stablemate World Of Darcy (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}).
“He is a long way from wound up, I think he is a very good horse and he has the potential to be a superstar sprinter,” enthused Havana Grey's former trainer Karl Burke after posting his second win in the race. “He does things nice and easy at home, we haven't forced him at all and he has got the scope as well. He will improve again on this and he will now go for the [G2] Norfolk at Royal Ascot. I've not watched a replay, but it looked very easy and I thought Clifford [Lee] made a great move after a furlong. I was worried about the horses on his outside coming over and boxing him in and I didn't want that. I wanted it nice and simple as he is a lovely horse with a big stride. It was lot quicker ground than Doncaster, so we were a bit wary he might be a bit green and a bit outpaced early. Clifford did exactly the right thing after a furlong or so and switched out and got a lovely clear passage.” With thoughts of Royal Ascot very much to the fore, the trainer added, “We know Wesley Ward will come over with some rockets, but this fellow will stay very well and he will love that track. I was rushing through the stands and didn't realise we were second [with World Of Darcy] until I looked up at the screen. He is a good solid horse and he will be winning plenty of races. He will probably go for the [Listed] Windsor Castle.”
Elite Status, full-brother to a yearling colt, is the first of two foals produced by a multiple-winning daughter of Luxuria (Ire) (Kheleyf), herself a half-sister to the 2007 winner of this contest Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). Sweepstake, in turn, is the dam of G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and MGSW G2 Futirity S. and G2 Huxley S. victor Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Descendants of the January-foaled bay's fourth dam, Hesmonds Stud matriarch Galaxie Dust (Blushing Groom {Fr}), include multiple stakes-winning G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud third Zimzalabim (GB) (Damister), GII Lake Placid H. victrix Spotlight (GB) (Dr Fong), G3 Fred Darling S. winner Bulaxie (GB) (Bustino {GB}) and the latter's G2 Premio Lydia Tesio-winning daughter Claxon (GB) (Caerleon).
Thursday, Sandown, Britain
RACEHORSE LOTTO NATIONAL S.-Listed, £40,000, Sandown, 5-25, 2yo, 5f 10yT, 1:00.48, gd.
1–ELITE STATUS (GB), 131, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Dotted Swiss (Ire), by Swiss Spirit (GB)
2nd Dam: Luxuria (Ire), by Kheleyf
3rd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (56,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 325,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $32,687.
2–World Of Darcy (Ire), 131, c, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Alicia Darcy (Ire), by Sir Prancealot (Ire). (€42,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Thomas Foley (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £8,600.
3–Hackman (Ire), 131, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Ishimagic (GB), by Ishiguru. (€70,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; £130,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-The Gene Genies; B-Golden Vale Stud (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £4,304.
Margins: 5, 1, 1HF. Odds: 2.50, 11.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Shayekh (Ire), Matters Most (GB), Blue Storm (GB), Son Of Corballis (Ire), On Point (Ire), Dapper Valley (Ire), Love Billy Boy (Ire).
Goodness gracious me
A frankly jawdropping display from Elite Status in the @RacehorseLotto National Stakes @Sandownpark #RoyalAscot, anyone? @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke pic.twitter.com/MiOeBqF5Pu
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 25, 2023
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