By Sean Cronin
Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) backed up an Apr. 24 maiden score at Doncaster with a close-up fifth, to the reopposing Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), in Royal Ascot's June 16 Listed Windsor Castle S. and announced his arrival on the juvenile scene with a devastating closing burst to seal an impressive triumph in Wednesday's G3 Markel Molecomb S. at Goodwood. The 6-1 chance was sharply into stride from the stands' side stall and occupied a forward berth in sixth through the early fractions of this five-furlong dash. Nudged along to close soon after halfway, he was ridden to join the front rank passing the eighth pole and surged clear once engaging turbo under a drive inside the final 100 yards for a taking 3 1/4-length success from Fearby (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}).
“We have always thought a lot of him and he worked very well on Sunday morning,” revealed trainer Richard Hannon. “He ran very well at Royal Ascot, even though he still looked a little inexperienced, and he's won very well today. He was tapped for speed a little bit coming down to the furlong-and-a-half marker, but he would have loved that ground. Ryan [Moore] said he would like the ground, I think he knows what he's on about, and he did. He's not a big horse and, if he makes a 3-year-old, then great. This is his year and he is good enough now. I've not made too many flash entries for him, but we'll look at something like the [Aug. 22 G1] Prix Morny [at Deauville] and, maybe, the [Sept. 10 G2] Flying Childers [at Doncaster]. He will get six furlongs and we'll have to have a go at a Group 1 race over that trip now.”
Reflecting on the preformance of 13-8 favourite Fearby, rider PJ McDonald said of the runner-up, “He has run a brilliant race. He is an honest little horse, who has never run a bad race, and there is more to come from him. I challenged on the wing and he handled the ground, but he would be better on better ground.”
Armor is the latest of four foals and becomes the first stakes scorer for Hestia (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself a winning daughter of Listed Prix La Sorellina second Tadorne (Fr) (Inchinor {Ire}). Tadorne, who also produced G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and G3 Prix Daphnis victor Pinson (Ire) (Halling), is kin to four black-type winners. They are G1 Grand Criterium third Ximb (Fr) (Septieme Ciel), G3 Prix Miesque and G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. placegetter Verba (Fr) (Anabaa), MGSP Listed Criterium du Bequet victrix Welcome Millenium (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) and G3 Prix Miesque runner-up Kambura (Fr) (Literato {Fr}). Tadorne is also a half-sister to the dam of MGSW G1 2000 Guineas third Native Khan (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}).
Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
MARKEL MOLECOMB S.-G3, £75,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 2yo, 5fT, :59.26, sf.
1–ARMOR (GB), 127, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Hestia (Fr), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Perruche Grise (Fr), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Tadorne (Fr), by Inchinor (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€55,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-C E Stedman (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Ryan Moore. £42,533. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $63,378. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fearby (Ire), 127, c, 2, Havana Gold (Ire)–Coolminx (Ire), by One Cool Cat. (13,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 21,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing; B-Ringfort Stud (IRE); T-Ed Bethell. £16,125.
3–Boonie (Ire), 127, c, 2, Brazen Beau (Aus)–Dice Game (GB), by Shamardal. O-Seymour Bloodstock & Mark Balnaves; B-Seymour Bloodstock (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £8,070.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 6.00, 1.63, 9.00.
Also Ran: Nymphadora (GB), Mojomaker (Ire), Chipotle (GB), Kingboard Star (Ire), Swayze (GB), Arboy Will (GB), Kaboo, Chimgan (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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