By Tom Frary
Newbury's bet365 EBF Novice S. at Saturday looked the type of race to throw up something special beforehand and the feast of fancy pedigrees duly delivered as Lady Bamford's newcomer Guru (GB) (Kingman {GB}) denied Juddmonte's Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in a photo. Settled off the pace as Adam Kirby found a lead throughout the early stages of this seven-furlong contest, the 8-1 shot had to surrender first run to the eventual runner-up inside the final two furlongs but picked up in style to reel in that rival in the final stride. At the line, the homebred son of the high-class Dream Peace (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) had prevailed by a nose from the son of Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), with three lengths separating them and Legend of Dubai (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). That first foal out of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal) was making it a one-two-three for the blueblooded newcomers in a race that could be talked about for some time to come.
John Gosden's son Thady was on hand to discuss the winner and said, “He did everything right in the race and is a pretty laid-back horse at home. He was taking everything in today on this first day at school and he may be one to treat gently and take in a novice rather than going straight into a group race. Sir Michael Stoute's horse [Maximal] looked a lovely horse in the paddock, so we were pleased to be there with him at the end.”
Guru looks as if he could be the best progeny so far out of Dream Peace, who was bought for 2.7million gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Initially with Robert Collet, the Kilfrush Stud-bred mare captured the G2 Prix de la Nonette and was third in the GI E.P. Taylor S. and runner-up in the GI Diana S. before joining Chad Brown and placing in the GI Flower Bowl Invitational and the E.P. Taylor and Diana again. The second dam is Truly a Dream (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) who captured the E.P. Taylor when it was staged as a grade II and also the G3 Prix de Royaumont before producing the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Catcher In the Rye (Ire) (Danehill). Also connected to the top-class trio of L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Dream Peace's yearling colt is by Frankel (GB).
2nd-Newbury, £6,400, Novice, 7-18, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.93, gd.
GURU (GB) (c, 2, by Kingman (GB)#tot">Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Dream Peace (Ire) (GSW-Fr, MGISP-Can, MGISP-US, $815,242), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Truly a Dream (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Truly Special (Ire), by Caerleon
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,203. O/B-Lady Bamford (GB); T-John Gosden. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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