By Sean Cronin
Susan Roy's homebred 4-year-old gelding Grand Alliance (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}–Endless Love {Ire}, by Dubai Destination) was winless in six starts since registering early-season scores at Chelmsford and Donaster last year and, with dual Classic hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) failing to fire on seasonal return, stepped forward to notch as shock victory in Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise S. (John Porter S.) at Newbury. Fourth over course and distance in October's G3 St Simon S. when last seen, the 18-1 outsider was patiently ridden from the outset and found a comfortable rhythm off the pace in fifth. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle in the straight, he launched his challenge passing the quarter-mile pole and surged clear, despite drifting towards the far-side rail, under a drive in the closing stages to secure a career high in game fashion. At the line, he was 2 1/4 lengths too good for Farhan (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who edged Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by a neck for second.
Grand Alliance, who ran 11th in last year's G1 Derby, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when drifting late in Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII and was gelded before running third behind Max Vega in the St Simon last time. “He has done that to a pretty decent field, they were a good bunch and he has done it pretty handily in the end,” said trainer Charlie Fellowes. “I don't think he was doing a huge amount out in front. He was on and off the bridle, but that's him and he has got a lot better than he was last year. He was particularly quirky last year, but he's settled down a lot. It was rattling quick when he threw that race away at Ascot and I think he goes on any ground. He has a [G2] Yorkshire Cup entry, but James [Doyle] said afterwards he wouldn't be jumping to step up further in trip. I think I need to have a sit down and talk to the owner and make a plan.”
Doyle, celebrating his 35th birthday in style, added, “He was on and off the bridle, but that is what he has does and he has always hinted he has been pretty good. He should have won at Royal Ascot last year, but he just hung across the track. He is very versatile ground-wise and he's got such small feet that it's amazing he does go on this type of heavy ground. He does go on fast ground, so hopefully we can have a bit of fun with him. On better ground he could possibly go up to a Yorkshire Cup trip, but on testing ground like it is today, I think this trip is about right.”
Notwithstanding Hurricane Lane's eclipse, the 6-4 favourite eased when beaten on unsuitable going, there was a downbeat air to the epilogue with the news G1 Derby, G1 St Leger and G1 Gold Cup runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) may have run his final race after finishing fourth. “He came in lame and has gone straight to the vets in Newbury,” revealed trainer Richard Hannon. “He has a bit of a history, so that's why he doesn't run too often. It doesn't look great and that's all we know at the moment. I would think it might be suspensory, but he has such a big heart he's run right to the line and that's why we all love him. He's been a big part of our lives for five years, he is a gentleman and a horse very close to his owner's heart. He is in the best place and he'll be fine. Whether he continues his racing career or not, is probably doubtful. He has given us several great days, it's been a pleasure to have him about and he is a very special horse.”
Pedigree Notes
Grand Alliance, who becomes the ninth black-type winner for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}), is the ninth of 11 live foals and one of four scorers out of an unraced half to the dual stakes-placed Wittgenstein (Ire) (Shamardal). The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-brother to MGSW G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., G1 Prix Jean Prat and G1 Prix de la Foret placegetter Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), Listed Radley S. third Dutch Romance (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Gleneagles (Ire). Their second dam, Listed Montrose Fillies' S. victrix and G3 Prix Saint-Roman runner-up La Vita E Bella (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}), is kin to the dual stakes scorer Bella Tusa (Ire) (Sri Pekan), herself the second dam of stakes-winning G3 Cornwallis S. runner-up Method (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE FINEST SURPRISE S. (JOHN PORTER S.)-G3, £70,000, Newbury, 4-22, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:45.57, sf.
1–GRAND ALLIANCE (IRE), 128, g, 4, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Endless Love (Ire), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: La Vita E Bella (Ire), by Definite Article (GB)
3rd Dam: Coolrain Lady (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Mrs Susan Roy (IRE); T-Charlie Fellowes; J-James Doyle. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 11-3-2-2, $165,149. *1/2 to Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), MGSW-Eng, MG1SP-Fr & G1SP-Ire, $881,382; and Dutch Romance (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Farhan (Ire), 128, h, 5, Zoffany (Ire)–Market Forces (GB), by Lomitas (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (25,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 58,000gns RNA 2yo '20 TATAHI; 150,000gns 4yo '22 TATAHI). O-James & Susan Cookson; B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Paul Kirby. £15,050.
3–Max Vega (Ire), 131, g, 6, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Paraphernalia (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€47,000 RNA Wlg '17 GOFNOV; €25,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR). O-The Pickford Hill Partnership; B-Tullpark Ltd (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £7,532.
Margins: 2 1/4, NK, 4. Odds: 18.00, 40.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mojo Star (Ire), Lone Eagle (Ire), Surrey Mist (Fr), Hurricane Lane (Ire). Scratched: Israr (GB).
GRAND ALLIANCE gives owner-breeder Mrs Susan Roy another stakes win in @NewburyRacing Gr.3 @DDFRacing Finest Surprise Stakes under @the_doyler for @FellowesRacing pic.twitter.com/7jRGc5BuGK
— GBRI (@GBRI_UK) April 22, 2023
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
