By Tom Frary
There was a surprise in store in Thursday's G2 Cazoo May Hill S. at Doncaster as The Megsons' 21,000gns Book 2 bargain Polly Pott (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) registered a 40-1 success for the soon-to-be-retired Harry Dunlop. In an outcome almost scripted by the racing gods, the winner of nurseries at Nottingham and Salisbury last month burst some bubbles as she swooped from rear under Danny Tudhope. Taking the measure of Novakai (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) from the furlong pole, the bay readily asserted to upstage that rival by 1 1/2 lengths, with another outsider Perfect Prophet (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) outrunning her odds of 50-1 in third, three lengths away. The 5-4 favourite Dance In The Grass (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) was only seventh.
Massive upset! At 40/1, Polly Pott wins the Group 2 Cazoo May Hill for Danny Tudhope and @HarryDunlop3 at @DoncasterRaces… pic.twitter.com/yU5NV8W28L
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 8, 2022
Dunlop, who is the most notable of those recently announcing their departure from the training ranks, has enjoyed a purple patch since his shock announcement with the useful filly Adaay In Asia (GB) (Adaay {Ire}) winning at the Goodwood and Ebor festivals and at the Shergar Cup. “What this filly has is she's tough and hardy,” the son of the late legend John said. “It's surreal really. I've only got 12 horses and they're running well. We're lucky enough to have horses like this and it's very hard when you haven't got them, but you've got to enjoy them when you do get one. She cost 21,000 guineas and you're taking on these smartly-bred fillies that cost half a million. I think Ben Pauling is going to train her next year. Wherever she goes, I think she'll be a tough cookie and will probably stay a mile and a half I would think.”
Starting her career masquerading as a sprinter, Polly Pott was beaten into seventh on debut at Newbury May 31 and fourth at Lingfield June 13 before taking a Bath maiden over five furlongs and 160 yards on ground officially described as firm at the venue famed for its lack of a watering system July 12. Upped almost three furlongs for her first nursery at Nottingham Aug. 4, the bay made light work of the contrasting examination before coming back 15 days later to double up at Salisbury. Relishing the easier surface here, she could be called the winner some way out with no hint of fluke.
“She has got better and better, but I didn't expect that,” Dunlop added. “She's rated 75, this is a group two and she's won four on the bounce now, so it's fantastic. We've got to run her in a group one now, I suppose. Maybe the Fillies' Mile, why not? I'm really pleased for all my team at home. Obviously in my personal circumstances it's a great sending off and I think someone is looking down–it's quite emotional.”
The winner's dam Must Be Me (GB) (Trade Fair {GB}), whose daughter of Showcasing (GB) was a prescient £60,000 purchase by Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock at last month's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, hails from a classy family with her dam being the listed-placed Roodeye (GB) (Inchinor {GB}). Among the progeny of Roodeye, who is a half to the G1 Prix Morny runner-up Gallagher (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), is Showcasing's star miler Mohaather (GB), Shadwell's hero of the G1 Sussex S., G2 Summer Mile and G3 Greenham S.
Roodeye also produced Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who captured the GII Monrovia S. and GII San Clemente H. and was third in the GI Del Mar Oaks before throwing Ballydoyle's 2.8million gns Book 1 sensation History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who took this year's G3 Cornelscourt S. Roodeye's daughter Roodle (GB) (Xaar {GB}) staked her own claim to fame when producing the G1 Queen Anne S. hero Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) and the Listed Hyde S. scorer Madame Tantzy (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}).
Thursday, Doncaster, Britain
CAZOO MAY HILL S.-G2, £120,000, Doncaster, 9-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.34, g/s.
1–POLLY POTT (GB), 128, f, 2, by Muhaarar (GB)
1st Dam: Must Be Me (GB), by Trade Fair (GB)
2nd Dam: Roodeye (GB), by Inchinor (GB)
3rd Dam: Roo (GB), by Rudimentary
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (21,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-The Megsons; B-Biddestone Stud Ltd (GB); T-Harry Dunlop; J-Danny Tudhope. £68,052. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, $93,662. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Novakai (GB), 128, f, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Elasia (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (GB); T-Karl Burke. £25,800.
3–Perfect Prophet (GB), 128, f, 2, Nathaniel (Ire)–Perfect Lady (GB), by Excelebration (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (20,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mildmay Racing & Aura (Gas) Holdings Ltd; B-Mildmay Bloodstock & Mr D H Caslon (GB); T-Ed Walker. £12,912.
Margins: 1HF, 3, 1HF. Odds: 40.00, 4.50, 50.00.
Also Ran: Cell Sa Beela (GB), Ferrari Queen (Ire), Mottisfont (Ire), Dance In The Grass (GB), Frankness (GB). Scratched: Crystallium (GB), Dubai Jemila (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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