By Tom Frary
Earning TDN Rising Star status with a defeat of the subsequent G2 Gimcrack S. runner-up Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on debut over six furlongs at Goodwood May 25, Masar was third to the leading fillies September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch) in the Listed Chesham S. over this trip at Royal Ascot June 24 and came into this staging post fresh after a break. Settled behind the leading duo early, the homebred was roused to take over with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and stayed on strongly up the hill. “I thought it was a nice, professional performance,” jockey James Doyle commented. “He had good form in the book, obviously and we knew he'd see out the trip well so we just kept it simple. He took a little bit of time to drop down into gear, but once he did he powered away nicely. I'd say a step up in trip will suit him.”
Charlie Appleby is looking at the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket Sept. 30 for the chestnut. “He got a dream run round and I was confident going into the final furlong he was going to carry on galloping and he did nicely,” he said. “It was a pleasing performance and I hope he's a horse with a bright future. He's potentially a horse for the Royal Lodge. We feel next year will be his year, so we'll treat him with some kid gloves, hopefully get another run under our belts and then put him away for the winter.”
Masar is the second foal out of the G2 UAE Derby and G3 UAE Oaks heroine Khawlah, who is herself a half-sister to the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano scorer and G1 Jebel Hatta runner-up Vancouverite (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The third dam Melikah captured the Listed Pretty Polly S. before placing in the G1 English and Irish Oaks and produced three black-type winners headed by the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville hero Masterstroke (Monsun {Ger}) who also finished third in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Her other notable performer is the G3 Meld S. scorer Moonlight Magic (GB) who shares Cape Cross as a sire with Khawlah. Melikah is in turn a daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and outstanding producer Urban Sea (Miswaki), whose Sea the Stars (Ire) is also by Cape Cross, suggesting Masar's juvenile achievements are only a bonus over trips short of his ideal. Khawlah's yearling colt is by Shamardal.
Saturday, Sandown, Britain
BETBRIGHT SOLARIO S.-G3, £45,000, SAN, 9-2, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.89, gd.
1–MASAR (IRE), 127, c, 2, by New Approach (Ire)
1st Dam: Khawlah (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 7-9.5f, MGSW-UAE & GSP-Eng, $1,366,175), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Villarrica, by Selkirk
3rd Dam: Melikah (Ire), by Lammtarra
*1st stakes win. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $52,394. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Romanised (Ire), 127, c, 2, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)">Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Romantic Venture (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Robert Ng; B-Mrs Monica Aherne (IRE); T-Ken Condon. £9,675.
3–Arbalet (Ire), 127, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Miss Beatrix (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€370,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV). O-Vefa Ibrahim Araci; B-Ms Mags Durkan (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £4,842.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.35, 7.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Purser, Vintager (GB), Connect (GB), De Bruyne Horse (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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