By Sean Cronin
Coolmore's Capulet (Justify–Wedding Vow {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) followed up an Aug. 15 debut victory at Dundalk with placed efforts in September's G2 Golden Fleece S. and G2 Royal Lodge S., and went postward for Thursday's Listed Boodles Raindance Dee S. at Chester coming back off a third over one mile at Chelmsford, behind the reopposing Bracken's Laugh (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), on sophomore return last month.
Sent into an immediate lead by Ryan Moore, the 7-2 chance held sway throughout the extended 10-furlong test and stayed on relentlessly under continued urging inside the final half-mile to hold the late threat of Bracken's Laugh by a half-length and secure a record-equalling 11th renewal for Aidan O'Brien. Last month's impressive Listed Feilden S. winner Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) finished 3 1/4 lengths adrift in third. In winning, Moore extended his race-record haul to seven.
“All the options are open to him now, we'll see how he is and it will be one of the Derbys in England or France, I'd have thought,” the winning trainer revealed. “There's obviously the Irish Derby in the mix too, so all things are open now. He's a lovely, honest horse. He was a little bit free in front today, but did it nicely in the end. We took him to Chelmsford to see if he was going to go to Kentucky, but he was green there and he'd come on for that run.”
Connections' Paul Smith commented, “That was very pleasing, I thought Ryan gave him a lovely ride and he appreciated the step up in trip. He's an uncomplicated horse and he travels well, so I suppose it will be the French Derby or the English Derby. We know he gets 10 furlongs well and he'd probably get a mile-and-a-half the way he runs. We have the trials at the weekend and next week and Aidan will sit down with the lads and discuss the plan from there.”
Moore added, “He was nicely drawn, there were only the four runners and he got into a nice rhythm and was able to build away. I was very happy with him, he came forward nicely from Chelmsford and the step up in trip has helped him. He's a horse who had good form last year and, with a bit of luck, he'll go on from here and improve again. I think the nicer ground and 10 furlongs suited him well, so there'll be plenty of options for him now.”
Capulet is the fifth of seven foals and one of two scorers out of G2 Kilboy Estate S. victrix and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Wedding Vow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself a full-sister to five black-type performers out of G1 Oaks runner-up Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). They include G1 Derby hero Serpentine (Ire), G3 Blue Wind S. victrix and G1 Oaks third Bye Bye Baby (Ire) and G3 Gallinule S. winner Beacon Rock (Ire). Remember When, in turn, is kin to MG1SW sire Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill), G1SW European champion Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) and G1 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to the unraced 2-year-old colt Saints N Scholars (Ire) (Quality Road) and a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Thursday, Chester, Britain
BOODLES RAINDANCE DEE S.-Listed, £100,000, Chester, 5-9, 3yo, c/g, 10f 70yT, 2:10.67, gd.
1–CAPULET, 128, c, 3, by Justify
1st Dam: Wedding Vow (Ire) (GSW-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $316,572), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Remember When (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lagrion, by Diesis (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £56,020. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng & Ire, 5-2-1-2, $141,852.
2–Bracken's Laugh (Ire), 128, c, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Guardia (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€35,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €55,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; 200,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRG). O-Bernardine & Sean Mulryan; B-Guardia Partnership (IRE); T-Richard Hughes. £21,330.
3–Jayarebe (Fr), 131, c, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Alakhana (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€180,000 Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-Iraj Parvizi; B-Oliver Pawle (FR); T-Brian Meehan. £10,680.
Margins: HF, 3 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 5.50, 1.75.
Also Ran: God's Window (GB). Scratched: Harper's Ferry (GB).
A Ryan Moore special as Capulet leads from start to finish in the Dee Stakes at @ChesterRaces… pic.twitter.com/EpmGJJQC0C
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2024
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