By Sean Cronin
Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Juniper Berries (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}–Tricksy Spirit {GB}, by Lethal Force {Ire}) made five unsuccessful attempts to add to a debut win over five furlongs at Bath in April and notched a stakes breakthrough in Thursday's G3 Ire-Incentive It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury, doubling her win tally in her first try at the six-furlong trip.
The 16-1 outsider, who ran fourth in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. in June and Newbury's Listed St Hugh's S. last month, was reined back to race off the pace in ninth through the initial fractions. Last to come off the bridle after halfway, she coaxed into action approaching the final furlong and finished with a late rattle to deny the pacesetting Dorothy Lawrence (GB) (Soldier's Call {GB}) by a short-head on the line. Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's 11-4 favourite Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who had previously placed in both G3 Albany S. and G3 Sweet Solera S., conceded several lengths after an unsuccessful attempt at anticipating the break before making late headway to finish 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
“I thought the step up to six would help and I thought the firm ground would help,” the winning trainer revealed. “She's been running over five in soft ground and she deserved this. We knew she had an amazing turn of foot, but it was just getting her to use it at the right time. We all made a plan, the owners and I, that we'd drop her in and if she didn't get there on time then she didn't get there on time. The last thing we wanted to do was get there too early and stop. She has a wicked turn of foot, but it's not a very long turn of foot. Look at the size of her, she does herself really well and she's on the grow again I think. She'll be a lovely filly for next year and the owners have got the stud, so it's great for them. What a star, good old Juni, we love her and I'm thrilled.”
Pedigree Notes
Juniper Berries is the second of three foals and lone scorer for Listed Scurry S. runner-up Tricksy Spirit (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}), herself out of a winning half-sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy third Henrik (GB) (Primo Dominie {GB}), G2 Gimcrack S. third Sir Reginald (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), stakes-winning G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. third Intense Pink (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Listed Empress S. runner-up Bishop's Lake (GB) (Lake Coniston {Ire}). Bishop's Lake, in turn, is the dam of Group 3-winning G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup third Euphrasia (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}) and Listed Dragon S. second Langavat (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) while descendants of the February-foaled bay's third dam Clincher Club (GB) (Polish Patriot) include G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Racing Post Trophy placegetter Van Der Neer (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).
Thursday, Salisbury, Britain
IRE-INCENTIVE, IT PAYS TO BUY IRISH DICK POOLE FILLIES' S.-G3, £45,000, Salisbury, 9-7, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:12.94, g/f.
1–JUNIPER BERRIES (GB), 128, f, 2, by Expert Eye (GB)
1st Dam: Tricksy Spirit (GB) (SP-Eng), by Lethal Force (Ire)
2nd Dam: Spritzeria (GB), by Bigstone (Ire)
3rd Dam: Clincher Club (GB), by Polish Patriot
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (28,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY). O-Norman Court Stud & Jon Mitchell; B-Jonathan Mitchell (GB); T-Eve Johnson Houghton; J-Charles Bishop. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-0, $81,893. Werk Nick Rating: First SW from this cross. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dorothy Lawrence (GB), 128, f, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Festoso (Ire), by Diesis (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Clipper Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke. £9,675.
3–Soprano (Ire), 128, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Lealas Daughter (Ire), by Excelebration (Ire). (€45,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 100,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Da Vinci); B-Empire Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-George Boughey. £4,842.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 9.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Queen Of Mougins (Ire), Air Force Indi, Unbreak My Heart (GB), Symbology (GB), Miaharris (GB), Betties Bay (GB), Onthemoneyhoney (Ire), Propitious (GB), Miss Mach One (Ire). Scratched: Les Bleus (GB), Majestic Beauty (GB), Navassa Island (Ire).
🙌 @Tattersalls1766 December Yearling Sale Gr.3 winner 🙌
JUNIPER BERRIES (GB), by @JuddmonteFarms EXPERT EYE (GB) & bought by @NormanStud from @BartonStud1 in December, narrowly wins the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes at @salisburyraces for @johnsonhoughton.pic.twitter.com/sbqV4iw3c1
— GBRI (@GBRI_UK) September 7, 2023
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