By Sean Cronin
Winless in seven starts since capturing ParisLongchamp's 2020 G1 Prix du Cadran, last term's G1 Gold Cup runner-up Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) bounced back in style on seasonal return to claim a thrilling victory in Wednesday's two-mile G3 Longines Sagaro S. at Ascot. The 7-year-old mare claimed a rail position after the early strides and raced third passing the judge first time. Biding her time throughout, the 17-2 chance was bustled along to find an open lane off the home turn and stayed on relentlessly under a drive inside the final quarter mile to hit the line with a head advantage from Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) with Queen's Cup winner Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) a further neck adrift in third. Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was bidding to provide his sire with a world record 348th stakes winner, went off as the 2-1 favourite and finished another neck away in fourth.
“I think she likes to come into her races, she is just a warrior and loves a battle and I will never have the like of her again,” commented trainer Tony Mullins of his stable star. “When you have trained ordinary horses for 25 or 30 years and then you have one like this it is special. She is just part of the family. I was anxious about the ground and was a little surprised they didn't water last night as it would still have left it good-to-firm, but not quite as quick as that. Everyone believes she is a heavy-ground mare and I'm bringing her here on good-to-firm. I know if she was well beaten that everyone would say I was wrong and made a big mistake. We came here today to win, she was fit enough to win and she is going to improve for Royal Ascot. The extra half-mile [of the G1 Gold Cup] is going to make a difference and I feel there is more in the tank. Hopefully, she will be fine in the morning and then the whole build-up to the Gold Cup begins.”
Princess Zoe is one of five winners, from six foals, produced by a multiple-winning half-sister to MGSW sire Peppercorn (Ger) (Big Shuffle), G2 Oettingen-Rennen victor Pepperstorm (Ger) (Big Shuffle), G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten winner Peppershot (Ger) (Big Shuffle) and the dual stakes-placed Pepperjuice (Ger) (Big Shuffle). The March-foaled grey is a half-sister to MGSW G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Palace Prince (Ger) (Areion {Ger}). Her second dam Pasca (Ger) (Lagunas {GB), broodmare of the year in 2003, is a half-sister to G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Padang (Ger) (Ile de Bourbon).
Wednesday, Ascot, Britain
LONGINES SAGARO S.-G3, £80,000, Ascot, 4-27, 4yo/up, 15f 209yT, 3:26.41, g/f.
1–PRINCESS ZOE (GER), 125, m, 7, by Jukebox Jury (Ire)
1st Dam: Palace Princess (Ger), by Tiger Hill (Ire)
2nd Dam: Pasca (Ger), by Lagunas (GB)
3rd Dam: Palmas (Ger), by Neckar (Ger)
O-Patrick F Kehoe & Mrs P Crampton; B-Gestut Hony-Hof (GER); T-Tony Mullins; J-Joey Sheridan. £45,368. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Mare-Eng & Fr at 14f+, G1SW-Fr, SW & GSP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, 29-8-8-3, $516,352. *1/2 to Palace Prince (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 7-9.5f, MGSW & G1SP-Ger, SW-Fr, $462,429. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Quickthorn (GB), 128, g, 5, Nathaniel (Ire)–Daffydowndilly (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Lady Blyth; B-Lemington Grange Stud (GB); T-Hugh Morrison. £17,200.
3–Enemy (GB), 128, g, 5, Muhaarar (GB)–Prudenzia (Ire), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€420,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG; €92,000 4yo '21 ARQAUT). O-Tracey Bell & Caroline Lyons; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc (GB); T-Ian Williams. £8,608.
Margins: HD, NK, NK. Odds: 8.50, 3.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Wordsworth (Ire), Tashkhan (Ire), Nayef Road (Ire). Scratched: Calling The Wind (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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