By Tom Frary
Saturday's Listed Committed S. at Navan was as intriguing a Commonwealth Cup pointer as can be found at this stage of the season and full credit has to be handed to the race-hardened New York City (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for making his presence felt despite being passed over by Ryan Moore. Unable to win in five starts at two but tried in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket and beaten under five lengths when ninth in that September feature, the full-brother to the G2 Duke of York S.-winning sire Invincible Army was off the mark by seven lengths over five furlongs here Mar. 29. Building on that confidence boost, the bay raced alongside TDN Rising Star Straight Answer (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) on the front end throughout and proved the stronger of the pair to earn a black-type success as the stable's G2 Norfolk S. fourth Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) did best of the chasers.
“He must have been a little bit babyish or something, but he is a big powerful horse now,” Aidan O'Brien said in reference to the winner's blank season as a juvenile. “We thought he would do plenty last year, but he took until this year to win. He was very impressive again today. The plan will be to go to the [June 17 G1] Commonwealth with him. Looking at him, you would hope he would get six.”
New York City is the last known foal out of the G1 Falmouth S.-winning dam, whose aforementioned Invincible Army was also successful in the G3 Pavilion S., G3 Chipchase S. and G3 Sirenia S. and was placed in the G1 Flying Five. His family includes the G1 Prix Morny heroine Hoh Magic (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and the G3 Fred Darking S. winner Dandhu (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}).
COMMITTED S.-Listed, €40,000, Navan, 4-23, 3yo, 5f 182yT, 1:12.00, gd.
1–NEW YORK CITY (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Rajeem (GB) (G1SW-Eng, $257,333), by Diktat (GB)
2nd Dam: Magic Sister (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Gunner's Belle (GB), by Gunner B (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (375,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 600,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock & Jack Cantillon (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €24,000. Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-2, $45,760. *Full to Invincible Army (Ire), MGSW-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $481,260.
2–Straight Answer (GB), 131, c, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Straight Thinking, by Mizzen Mast. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €8,000.
3–Cadamosto (Ire), 131, c, 3, No Nay Never–Saucy Spirit (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. (£130,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg; B-Peter Henley & Eric McDonnell (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €4,000.
Margins: 1, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.00, 1.38, 4.00.
Also Ran: King of Bavaria (Ire), Thunder Eclipse (Ire), Red Lacewing (Ire), Furnace Creek (Ire). Scratched: Drombeg Banner (Ire).
Jack is ready for Royal Ascot #NewYorkCity pic.twitter.com/duXApwPGNo
— Tinnakill House (@TinnakillHouse) April 23, 2022
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