By Tom Frary
Bypassing the 2000 Guineas in favour of another confidence-building exercise in Goodwood's British EBF 40th Anniversary Conditions S. on Friday, Rosehill Racing's bargain 32,000gns Book 3 purchase Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}–Terentia {GB}, by Diktat {GB}) rewarded that patience by taking his record to three-for-three with consummate ease to become the latest TDN Rising Star. Sent off the 7-4 second favourite for the mile contest, the Charlie Hills-trained relative of the smart sprinter Cartimandua (GB) (Medicean {GB}) was settled under cover on the rail by Kieran Shoemark throughout the early stages.
Eased out of his pocket approaching the furlong pole, the bay who had won on testing ground at Newbury in October and on Wolverhampton's Tapeta in March quickly settled the issue before surging to a 5 1/2-length dismissal of the 11-8 favourite Kolsai (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The Roger Varian-trained runner-up provides useful context to the form, having been just a half-length second to the well-regarded Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in Newmarket's Listed Feilden S. last month.
🚀 Cicero's Gift – what a performance this is at @Goodwood_Races
🏇 Three runs
🥇 Three wins
⭐️ Deeply impressive for @cbhills & @KShoemark pic.twitter.com/mPTy6VzROU— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2023
Cicero's Gift, who holds an entry in the G1 St James's Palace S., brings Muhaarar's TDN Rising Star tally to four, with the P. G. Johnson S. winner and GII Miss Grillo S. third Be Your Best (Ire) winner currently chief among them. The dam, a smart five-furlong handicapper, has produced one black-type performer so far in the Listed Queen Charlotte S. runner-up Crossing The Line (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). She is out of the Listed Oh So Sharp S. scorer Agrippina (GB) (Timeless Times), who produced the aforementioned Cartimandua. Successful in the Listed Kilvington Fillies' S. and Listed Cecil Frail S. and third in the G3 Ballyogan S., she went on to throw the G2 July S. third Elronaq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Terentia's 2-year-old colt is by Golden Horn (GB), while her yearling son of Mohaather (GB) was a 52,000gns purchase by Manister House Stud at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
5th-Goodwood, £30,000, Novice, 5-5, 3yo, 8fT, 1:42.03, g/s.
CICERO'S GIFT (GB), c, 3, by Muhaarar (GB)
1st Dam: Terentia (GB), by Diktat (GB)
2nd Dam: Agrippina (GB), by Timeless Times
3rd Dam: Boadicea's Chariot (Ire), by Commanche Run (GB)
(32,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $37,513. O-Rosehill Racing; B-Mrs F S Williams (GB); T-Charles Hills. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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