By Tom Frary
Having come from behind on Aesop's Fables (Ire) in the Futurity half an hour earlier, Ryan Moore was ripping it up from the front on Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) as the Belle of Ballydoyle brought up a notable pattern-race double for her sire and a 13th renewal of the G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S.
Out of action since her success in the June 17 G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, the 8-13 favourite had no qualms with being placed on the front end and raced with ears pricked as the considerable talent Olivia Maralda (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) kept her honest. Two out, the eventual runner-up looked to be going better but a handful of yards later it was clear that her threat was short-lived. Jinking near the line, the bay had 3/4 of a length to spare over Olivia Maralda, with Thornbrook (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) a neck away in third as the closers failed to figure.
Meditate, who had scored on debut over five furlongs here Apr. 10 before adding Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. to her tally May 15, had upstaged the subsequent G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. scorer Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the Albany and with the stable's Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) sent to Deauville, the way was clear for her to claim the bragging rights among the juvenile fillies.
“It was her first time over seven, but she is so laid back and travels along in second gear,” Aidan O'Brien said. “She was very fresh even going down and it was a while since she ran. She even spotted the photographer going to the line. She hits the gates very quick, but relaxes and is happy to sit there handy. She is very professional and gives you only what you ask. The plan was to come here and go for the Moyglare and that is what we are hoping to do. Ryan said that trip was no problem and he felt further would be no problem. She looks a very exciting filly at the moment.”
A €360,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate, Meditate is currently the last-known foal out of Pembina (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) who is a daughter of Gerry Oldham's Listed Prix Imprudence winner Mahalia (Ire) (Danehill). One of his leading broodmares, she produced the G3 Prix Quincey-winning sire Johnny Barnes (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and the G3 Prix de Flore winner Albisola (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who is in turn the second dam of this year's G2 Prix de Sandringham scorer Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}).
Mahalia's many smart descendants include the top-level-winning half-brothers Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) and Most Improved (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and Acclamation's G3 Nell Gwyn S. scorer and 1000 Guineas third Daban (Ire). She is a half to the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron winner Muroto (GB) (Busted {GB}) and the listed-placed Zivania (Ire) (Shernazar {Ire}) who is in turn the dam of five black-type winners headed by the 1000 Guineas third Hathrah (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}).
Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
ALPHA CENTAURI DEBUTANTE S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 8-20, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:23.43, gd.
1–MEDITATE (IRE), 128, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Pembina (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mahalia (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Maresca (Ire), by Mill Reef
(€360,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €72,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 4-4-0-0, $198,733. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Olivia Maralda (Ire), 128, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Yajala (GB), by Fasliyev.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (460,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Amo Coutinho Partnership; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Michael O'Callaghan. €24,000.
3–Thornbrook (Ire), 128, f, 2, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Lillebonne (Fr), by Danehill Dancer (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-By The Way Partnership; B-Peter Henley, John Connolly & Pattern Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 2HF. Odds: 0.62, 4.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Maybe Just Maybe (Jpn), Zoinnocent (Ire), With Love (GB), Gan Teorainn (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
⭐️ Meditate – still unbeaten
🏇 Four races
🥇 Four wins
🏆 G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes
🏆 G3 Albany Stakes
💪 She shows a fine attitude to complete a four-timer for Aidan O'Brien & Ryan Moore @curraghrace @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/NLNRikzb4Q— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 20, 2022
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