By Sean Cronin
The odds for Thursday's Kingdom of Bahrain-sponsored G2 Princess of Wales's S. suggested a measure of redemption was in store for Derby and King George hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), but Shadwell's former handicapper and 7-2 second favourite Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}–Taghrooda {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) confounded those in possession of 1-3 tickets with a power-packed display of his own to claim a career best in the 12-furlong feature. The eventual winner slipstreamed Godolphin duo Global Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Adayar through the early fractions and eased outside into an echelon formation in readiness for his bid passing halfway. Moving into second with three furlongs remaining, he was pushed to the front going into “the dip” and lengthened clear in impressive fashion up the hill to easily assert superiority by 4 1/2 lengths. Adayar was unable to match the winner's kick up the hill, finishing a well-beaten second. Stablemate Global Storm was 7 1/2 lengths further adrift in third.
Israr, who attained 'TDN Rising Star' status tackling one mile at Doncaster on debut in 2021, snagged two of six handicap outings last year and opened this campaign with runner-up finishes in May's G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury and in last month's Listed Grand Cup at York.
“We ran him at York over a mile-and-six, he took on a good stayer [Quickthorn] that day and it was a mistake as it was too far,” explained John Gosden after collecting a third renewal. “They have gone strong fractions today and they are not far off a track record. It was a great performance, he coped with the good-to-firm ground and it was the best performance of his life. I expected him to run well today, but I didn't expect him to beat Adayar like that. He is improving, but I don't want to rush him in any big races like the [G1] King George. I think it would be too soon and too quick after a performance like that. I'd like to try and box a bit more cleverly than that. If we space his races he will be a nice horse right the way through to the [G1] Sheema Classic next year. I do have plans, but I've not got them organised yet so I will have to get the old [programme] book out.”
It was a first triumph in the race for rider Jim Crowley, who added, “He didn't quite get home last time at York, but he is probably only just coming to himself now. He has a very good personality and is very laid back, but he is tough and tries hard. As soon as I got upsides Adayar at the two pole I pretty much knew we had got him beat. It looks as though a mile-and-a-half is definitely his trip. He is a big, strong horse that is getting better with racing and age and is a work in progress.”
Reflecting on a sub-par performance from Adayar, trainer Charlie Appleby said, “Will [Buick] was happy throughout the race and when he made the move we thought he'd go and put it to bed. To be fair to Israr, he came under the pump before we did and we thought we had got him at it. He was disappointing when he hit the rising ground and just emptied out. We'll get him home and see what the vitals say after the race, but it wasn't the ground. He's won on quick ground before so I'm not going to use that as an excuse and we'll see if anything comes out in the wash.”
Pedigree Notes
Israr becomes the first pattern-race scorer, from two winners, produced by G1 Oaks and G1 King George S. & Queen Elizabeth S. heroine Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who also hit the board in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Taghrooda is the leading performer for multiple stakes-winning G2 Lancashire Oaks second Ezima (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself a daughter of the unraced Ezilla (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Descendants of Ezilla include Group 1-winning siblings Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Edabiya (Ire) (Rainbow Quest). Taghrooda has the unraced 2-year-old filly Taraneem (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) to come.
Israr upstages Adayar, the 2021 Derby winner, in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes at @NewmarketRace. 👀@JimCrowley1978 | @ShadwellStud pic.twitter.com/sKk3UWhLBV
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 13, 2023
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
PRINCESS OF WALES'S S. (SPONSORED BY THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN)-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 7-13, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:27.33, g/f.
1–ISRAR (GB), 134, c, 4, by Muhaarar (GB)
1st Dam: Taghrooda (GB) (MG1SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $2,404,603), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ezima (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Ezilla (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Jim Crowley. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 11-4-3-3, $243,660. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Adayar (Ire), 134, h, 5, Frankel (GB)–Anna Salai, by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £26,875.
3–Global Storm (Ire), 137, 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.
Margins: 4HF, 7HF, 9. Odds: 3.50, 0.33, 18.00.
Also Ran: Grand Alliance (Ire).
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