By Tom Frary
Newcastle's QuinnBet Novice S. may end up being an important footnote by the end of the year as Friday's extended 10-furlong contest played host to Anamoine Ltd's precious homebred colt John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Emulating his illustrious dam Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) in breaking his maiden on the all-weather, the dark bay flashed the considerable ability that gets you into the Derby picture at this stage of the season to earn TDN Rising Star status. Anchored in rear early from his wide draw, the 9-4 joint-favourite whose half-sister Virgin Snow (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) finished runner-up in last year's G3 Hoppings Fillies' S. over this course and distance was green and climbing at times in behind rivals but Hollie Doyle kept typically calm as she plotted a way through. Giving the well-fancied duo Moktasaab (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and First Light (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a sizeable headstart in the straight, the Ed Dunlop-trained G1 Epsom Derby entry who was fourth on debut over seven furlongs at Doncaster in September picked them up in the style of a class act without being shown the whip. Surging by the other joint-favourite Moktasaab with a furlong remaining, the homebred made the winning distance to that Shadwell rival four lengths on natural ability at the line and Doyle's hardest job was pulling him up. First Light, a John and Thady Gosden-trained relative of Angara (GB) (Alzao), was a further 2 1/2 lengths away as the field spread out behind the winner whose time was also smart.
“He's a big powerful horse and an absolute gentleman,” his rider commented. “He was very professional and very relaxed–he settled well and the further he was going the better. He's pretty special, I think. Ed said to ride him like a good horse and try not to use my stick. The big step up in trip today helped and he'll probably stay a mile and a half in time.”
Snow Fairy enjoyed six outings as a juvenile, winning over six furlongs on Lingfield's Polytrack before finishing third in the G3 Prestige S. Taking off at three, she entered the G1 Epsom Oaks with valid stamina doubts having booked her ticket in the 10-furlong Listed Height of Fashion S. but saw out the mile-and-a-half trip strongly. Third before being eventually promoted to second behind her on that occasion was Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the dam of last year's blue riband hero Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in what could prove a twist of fate if John Leeper provides the dream scenario on the first Saturday in June.
After winning the G1 Irish Oaks by eight lengths, Snow Fairy was even tried over an extended 14 furlongs in the G1 St Leger but found that distance too far before turning into an international queen with four more top-level triumphs. This is her third foal, with the aforementioned Virgin Snow also finishing third in the G3 Darley Pride S. Her family includes the operation's Listed Autumn S. and G3 Furstenberg-Rennen winner and over-achieving sire Big Bad Bob (Ire) (Bob Back), who sadly died in 2016.
2nd-Newcastle, £5,600, Novice, 4-30, 3yo, 10f 42y (AWT), 2:10.11, st/sl.
JOHN LEEPER (IRE), c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Snow Fairy (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 14f+, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9 1/2-11f, MG1SW-Jpn, G1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Ire, G1SW-HK, G1SP-Fr, $6,340,956), by Intikhab
2nd Dam: Woodland Dream (Ire), by Charnwood Forest (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fantasy Girl (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $4,832. O/B-Anamoine Ltd (IRE); T-Ed Dunlop. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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