By Sean Cronin
John McConnell's A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}), who improved off an Aug. 26 debut third at Bellewstown to garner a Sept. 4 Down Royal maiden last time, stepped forward to claim a career high in Sunday's rescheduled G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey S. at The Curragh. The well-backed 6-1 chance, who also 'won' a July 29 Dundalk barrier trial, powered forward from a mainly level break to race on the front end after the initial steps of this black-type bow. Coming under pressure soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, he quickened smartly to poach a decisive advantage passing the eighth pole and was ridden out to comfortably account for G2 Norfolk S. fourth Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) by 1 1/4 lengths. The placed maiden Giuliana (Ger) (Muhaarar {GB}) outran her 18-1 odds and finished 1 3/4 lengths further adrift in third.
“That's my first Curragh winner as usually, if I have a good horse, I stay away from the Curragh because the competition is so good, but he justified coming here and was impressive,” explained owner-trainer John McConnell after registering a breakthrough success. “Colin [Keane] had done work on him during the week, but was claimed to ride for Aidan O'Brien for the day so he gave Gary [Carroll] advice. He won a barrier trial impressively and then I shouldn't have run him in Bellewstown, as he was drawn wide over a mile on soft ground, and he won well in Down Royal. It's my first Group winner on the Flat and [Ger Lyons' assistant trainer] Shane Lyons advised me to go for this race. I doubt if he will run again this year and I think we will leave that to someone else. He handled Dundalk well so he will have no problem on better ground. He's my own, I'd love to sell him and it would be great to sell him and stay in the yard. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets faster and faster and the dream could be something like a [G1] Commonwealth Cup [next year].”
A Case Of You, half-brother to a yearling filly by Alhebayeb (Ire), becomes the first pattern-race winner for his sire (by Iffraaj {GB}) and the first black-type winner for his dam Karjera (Ire) (Key of Luck), herself a full-sister to Listed Rochestown S. victor Akanti (Ire) and MGSP GIII Las Cienegas H. runner-up Lock and Key (Ire). His third dam Lock's Dream (Youth),who landed the Listed Spring Fiesta Cup H. and ran third in the G3 Yerba Buena H., is also the dam of Listed Demaloot Demashoot S. winner Big Brown Bear (Strike The Gold) and the juvenile winner Dream Regally (Vice Regent), who in turn produced Listed Maryland Racing Media S. victrix Lacie Slew (Mineshaft) and Listed Czaria H. winner Prettypriceygirl (Scat Daddy). Lock's Dream is the leading performer for G3 Princess Royal S. heroine Trillionaire (Vaguely Noble {Ire}), whose descendants also include GII Delaware H. winner Summer Wind Dancer (Siberian Summer).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
JEBEL ALI RACECOURSE & STABLES ANGLESEY S.-G3, €50,000, Curragh, 10-11, 2yo, 6f 63yT, 1:22.14, sf.
1–A CASE OF YOU (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Hot Streak (Ire)
1st Dam: Karjera (Ire), by Key of Luck
2nd Dam: Lock's Heath, by Topsider
3rd Dam: Lock's Dream, by Youth
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€3,000 RNA Ylg '19 GOFSPT). O/T-John McConnell; B-Limestone & Tara Studs (IRE); J-Gary Carroll. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $53,702. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lipizzaner, 131, c, 2, Uncle Mo–Irish Lights (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). ($650,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Irish Lights Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Giuliana (Ger), 128, f, 2, Muhaarar (GB)–Golden Whip (Ger), by Seattle Dancer. (45,000gns RNA Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Richard Galway, J Carthy & S C Khaw; B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Jessica Harrington. €5,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 6.00, 4.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: New Treasure (Ire), Miramis (Ire), Preamble (Ire), Dense Star (Ire), New Emerald Bay (Ire), Tar Heel (Ire), Lady Princess (Ire). Scratched: Aunty Bridy (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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