Kodiac's Atlantic Coast Edges Killavullan Thriller

Al Shira'aa Farms' homebred Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}–Liwa Palace {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) backed up a debut win over seven furlongs at the Curragh in August with a third going one mile for last month's G2 Golden Fleece S. at Leopardstown and stepped forward to notch a personal best in Saturday's G3 Killavullan S. back at the Foxrock track.

The 2-1 second choice was settled back in the field and raced several lengths off the pace in fifth through the early fractions. Inching closer once past halfway, he was bustled along at the top of the straight and kept on relentlessly under a final-furlong drive to deny Bright Stripes (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) by a nose on the line.

“We are opening up the ground a bit now and I thought he was spinning a bit for the first furlong,” explained rider Declan McDonogh. “I was planning to sit second or third, but was happy to come back and let him get comfortable. I followed Andy Oliver's horse [Bright Stripes] and it took a while to wear him down. He was never really enjoying the conditions today, but his will to win was good. I think you'll see this horse in a better light on good-to-soft summer ground. I thought turning in I'd win easy, but he hated conditions and was also daydreaming a bit, which is probably a good thing as he'll probably get a bit of distance next year. I'd say he'll get a stiff mile and could stay 10 furlongs down the line.”

Pedigree Notes

Atlantic Coast, who becomes the 43rd pattern-race winner for his sire, is the third foal bred from G3 Premio Elena E Sergio Cumani third Liwa Palace (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself kin to Listed Prix Le Fabuleux placegetter Atlantis Star (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and to the dam of multiple stakes scorer Frozen Juke (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}). Atlantic Coast's third dam is G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Aqaarid (Nashwan), who is also the second dam of dual Argentinian Group 1 winner Alampur (Arg) (Catcher In The Rye {Ire}). Aqaarid is the leading performer out of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Ashayer (Lomond). The April-foaled bay is half to a weanling colt by Pinatubo (Ire).

Killavullan Stakes (G3)
1.430 m – 52.500 EUR – for 2yo
Leopardstown

Atlantic Coast (IRE)
(2C Kodiac- Liwa Palace , by Oasis Dream)
J : Declan McDonogh
T :Joseph Patrick O'Brien
O :Al Shira'aa Farmspic.twitter.com/AW8pxU5xpl

— (@WorldRacing1) October 21, 2023

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KILLAVULLAN S.-G3, €52,500, Leopardstown, 10-21, 2yo, 7f 23yT, 1:40.96, hy.
1–ATLANTIC COAST (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Liwa Palace (GB) (GSP-Ity), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Ladeena (Ire), by Dubai Millennium (GB)
3rd Dam: Aqaarid, by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Al Shira'aa Farms (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €31,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $58,723. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bright Stripes (Ire), 131, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Dutch Rose (Ire), by Dutch Art (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (22,500gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Paul Hardy; B-Diomed Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andrew Oliver. €10,500.
3–Military (GB), 131, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Hostess (GB), by Iffraaj (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (375,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Brant; B-Highclere Stud & Mrs Michelle Morris (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,250.
Margins: NO, 5HF, SHD. Odds: 2.00, 5.50, 1.20.
Also Ran: Gloucester (Ire), Sluice (Ire), The Caribbean (Ire). Scratched: Instant Appeal (GB).