By Tom Frary
Newmarket's G2 Jockey Club S. is generally a tactical affair and Friday's renewal was no different as Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was able to boss another uninspiring renewal and bound back to form in no uncertain terms. Leaving connections pondering retirement after a no-show in Newbury's G3 John Porter S. last month, the 2021 Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger hero was understandably lacking believers as the 2-1 second favourite for this five-runner affair.
With the even-money favourite West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) giving negative signals resenting restraint in behind and outsider Outbox (GB) (Frankel {GB}) going it alone on the lead far side, it became a question of how much enthusiasm Hurricane Lane retained with just stablemate Global Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to track in what resembled a strong piece of work. That was answered with a look at William Buick's body language passing the half-mile marker and no sooner had he moved on the chestnut was the contest settled. Looking strong as he eked out a six-length advantage over the disappointing West Wind Blows, who was subsequently demoted behind Global Storm, the 5-year-old may well have enjoyed a turn in the road whose significance may only be fully appreciated later this term.
“It's been a great team effort to get the horse back, but we believed in ourselves and the horse–it was D-day for him, but throughout the Winter and into his Spring, his old demeanour had been there,” a relieved Charlie Appleby said. “We've always stated that he likes cut in the ground, but not like Newbury and that was a big ask on his first run after such a long lay-off. William said he was a different horse today and much more athletic. He worked midweek with those cheekpieces on and we were hopeful we would see that today. We will see if he is a Hardwicke horse in the summer, if the ground comes right. I always said I wanted to work back from an Arc. That might be a bit bold, but we will see.”
💨 The Hurricane rips through @NewmarketRace
A brilliant performance from Hurricane Lane who bounces right back to his best with a brilliant performance in the G2 @TheJockeyClub Stakes for team @godolphin, Appleby & Buick pic.twitter.com/kSI4hWvbOU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2023
Pedigree Notes
Hurricane Lane's dam Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), who was successful at listed level, is also responsible for his full-sister Frankel's Storm (GB) who was runner-up in the Listed Junioren-Preis. The second dam Hannda (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}) produced the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Seal Of Approval (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of the G3 March S. and G3 Princess Royal S.-placed Promissory (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), while another of Gale Force's half-siblings is the G3 Oak Tree S. third Instance (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who produced the listed-placed Sound Angela (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).
Hannda, who is kin to the G3 Concorde S. winner Hamairi (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), hails from the family of the Derby and Irish Derby-winning sire Harzand (Ire) and another British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine in Emily Upjohn (GB) both by Sea The Stars (Ire). Gale Force, who was bought for 300,000gns by Charlie Gordon Watson Bloodstock at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, also has the unraced 3-year-old filly Brisbane Road (GB) (Australia {GB}).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
JOCKEY CLUB S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 5-5, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:33.86, gd.
1–HURRICANE LANE (IRE), 131, h, 5, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Gale Force (GB) (SW-Fr, SP-Eng), by Shirocco (Ger)
2nd Dam: Hannda (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire)
3rd Dam: Handaza (Ire), by Be My Guest
(200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £70,888. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, Ire & Fr, 12-7-0-3, $2,777,840. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Global Storm (Ire), 131, g, 6, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Travel, by Street Cry (Ire). (200,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA; 260,000gns 2yo '19 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £13,450.
*3–West Wind Blows (Ire), 131, c, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–West Wind (GB), by Machiavellian. *TDN Rising Star. O-Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £26,875.
Margins: 6, NO, 9. Odds: 2.00, Evens, 4.50.
Also Ran: Outbox (GB), Jewel In My Crown (GB).
*West Wind Blows finished second, but was disqualified and placed third.
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