By Tom Frary
Confirming the form of the G1 Prix Morny on Saturday, Ballydoyle's Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) dominated Newmarket's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. as The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) delivered a one-two for the stable. Not content with a haul that already included the G3 Marble Hill and G2 Prix Robert Papin as well as the Deauville juvenile feature, the 10-3 joint-second favourite tracked the fast pace set by the Morny runner-up Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and was coaxed to that rival approaching the furlong pole with Ryan Moore's body language telling all. Sent clear with mainly hands and heels, Coolmore and Westerberg's indomitable performer hit the line typically strongly to record a two-length verdict over his stablemate who had run third at Deauville. Persian Force faded to be third, 1 1/4 lengths away, with the 15-8 favourite Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) only fifth having raced too keenly early.
Blackbeard, the progressive young No Nay Never colt, takes his game to the next level in the @JuddmonteFarms Middle Park Stakes @NewmarketRace
A magnificent seventh winner of the Group 1 for @Ballydoyle and @coolmorestud ✌ pic.twitter.com/TjiSRD11C6
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 24, 2022
“He has been very progressive, always, he has been from day one,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He often has to make his own running, as they don't go quick enough for him but always in his work he quickens very well from behind and we saw that today. He takes his work easy and is thriving, he never backs away from it.”
“He throws himself around, but there is no badness in him whatsoever,” his trainer added. He just starts stamping his feet if we ask him to stand too long and is like that at home, but he is very straightforward you just don't ask him to wait too long. He's that kind of personality–he's forward-going and if he was a human being he would say 'listen, just let me at it'–he likes going forward. He's very fast–we weren't sure how far he'd go early on and I think speed is his thing. I wouldn't be sure how much further he would go, but we'll re-assess him after today.”
Of The Antarctic, O'Brien said, “He's progressed hand over fist and is doing very well physically. He's on the upgrade and the stalls thing is getting better too. Tom said he stepped a little bit slow away and he has been doing that a little bit.”
Blackbeard, whose career began in early April with a win in the Dundalk maiden won by another former stable luminary in Caravaggio, is the first foal out of Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) who is a daughter of the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. winner Girouette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). She is a half to the dam of the G3 John Porter S. and G3 Zetland S. scorer Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while the family includes the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Mrs. Penny (Great Nephew {GB}) and the 1000 Guineas heroine Hatoof (Irish River {Fr}). Muirin also has a yearling full-sister and a colt full-brother to Blackbeard, with the former selling on Tuesday as lot 93 on day one of the Goffs Orby.
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK S.-G1, £275,000, Newmarket, 9-24, 2yo, c, 6fT, 1:12.02, gd.
1–BLACKBEARD (IRE), 128, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire)
2nd Dam: Girouette (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Vassiana (Fr), by Anabaa
(270,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Newstead Breeding (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £155,953. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, GSW-Ire, 8-6-1-0, $550,894. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Antarctic (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier,Tabor,Smith,Westerberg,Brant; B-Bally Philip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £59,125.
3–Persian Force (Ire), 128, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Vida Amorosa (Ire), by Lope de Vega (Ire). (€75,000 Wlg '20 GOFNOV; €225,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Tom Lacy (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £29,590.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.33, 16.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Mischief Magic (Ire), Marshman (GB), Once More For Luck (Ire), Zoology (GB), Never Just A Dream (Ire).
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