By Tom Frary
There was a tragic postscript to Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase as Godolphin's Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) broke down shortly past the line having registered an emphatic success in the often-crucial Derby trial. Racing in fourth for the most part under William Buick, the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) stormed by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Agenda (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 150 yards out en route to a three-length success before his cruel fatal injury.
Runner-up on debut to Juddmonte's Cadogan Place (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Southwell in March, the blueblooded winner had broken his maiden impressively at Newbury in the interim and was trading as the 9-4 second favourite here. This was some performance on Chester's Roodee track, with the 7-4 favourite Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) beaten a total of 10 1/2 lengths in third offering a what-might-have-been scenario where the Blue Riband is concerned.
“He fractured his leg, unfortunately,” Appleby revealed afterwards. “He passed the line all okay and then when he's crossed the road, he's took a false step on it and he's come down on it basically. It's one of those very freak accidents. Unfortunately, we can only go on what we've seen and won't see again for the future, it's very disappointing.
“Most importantly, I feel so sorry for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. To have a horse like him potentially coming through the ranks was exciting for everybody. It's a sad day,” he added. “I have to thank everybody here at the course, they've been very accommodating and were very speedy in what they've done. I feel sorry for Wayne, the groom, and all the staff back at Moulton Paddocks, who have done so much work with this horse. Will got up fine, which is the most important thing. He's a bit shook from it because it's not a nice thing to happen.”
Pedigree Notes
The aforementioned Secret Gesture, who was a top-class performer and unlucky not to have a top-level success to her name having been disqualified from first in the GI Beverly D. S. Successful in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial by 10 lengths, she was runner-up in the Oaks itself and in the G1 Preis der Diana before winning the G2 Middleton S. Bought for $3.5million at Keeneland November, she has produced four black-type performers from five foals including the stable's well-regarded Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal) who was third in the G3 Oak Tree S. and G2 German 1000 Guineas.
Secret Gesture is a full-sister to the G1 Juddmonte International S. and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Japan (GB) and to Mogul (GB) who was also successful in the Grand Prix de Paris as well as conquering the G1 Hong Kong Vase. The third dam is the G2 Prix de Royallieu-winning Lagardere mare Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}), ancestress of Linamix's Arc hero Sagamix (Fr) and fellow group 1 winners Sageburg (Ire) (Johannesburg) and Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}).
Wednesday, Chester, Britain
BOODLES CHESTER VASE-G3, £140,000, Chester, 5-8, 3yo, c/g, 12f 63yT, 2:38.89, gd.
1–HIDDEN LAW (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Secret Gesture (GB) (GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ger, GISP-US, $746,427), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Shastye (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Saganeca, by Sagace (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £78,428. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $127,383. *Full to Final Gesture (Ire), SW-Ire, SP-Fr, $127,765. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Agenda (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Different League (Fr), by Dabirsim (Fr).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. TDN Rising Star. O-Tabor/Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Brant; B-Coolmore & White Birch Farm SC (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £29,862.
3–Grosvenor Square (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Wadyhatta (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £14,952.
Margins: 3, 7HF, 5. Odds: 2.25, 3.00, 1.75.
Also Ran: Golden West (GB), Cadogan Place (GB), Pappano (GB).
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