By Sean Cronin
Silver Racing's G2 July S. runner-up Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never–Lady Aquitaine, by El Prado {Ire}) was unable to concede weight all round when following up in a Newmarket novices' heat earlier this month and rebounded in style to cause a 16-1 upset for the William Haggas stable in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York.
Comfortable in rear until surging into contention after halfway, he challenged the leading wave underneath the stands' side fence approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly, despite drifting left in the closing stages, to prevail by a length from 'TDN Rising Star' Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), with the same margin back to King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in third.
“He just ran awful at Newmarket last time,” reflected William Haggas after registering a third winner at the meeting. “He got upset beforehand, he was stupid to post and he was edgy in the stalls. Today he was really calm, good going down and we saddled him in the stables and walked him across. Newmarket can be like that when you box them up at home, but whatever happened he didn't run at all. Prior to that he had run a very good race in the July S. [also at Newmarket]. I had to just put a line through his last run, I had no choice. We had always planned to come for this, and after his race last time it almost put us off, but we thought why not have a go. He's owned by a new syndicate so I've no idea who will do the [traditional Gimcrack] speech. I probably put them off coming today, you couldn't fancy him really, although I did say to my son I thought he'd run well.”
Pedigree Notes
Lake Forest, the 10th of 11 foals, is one of eight scorers from nine runners out of G3 Sirenia S. third Lady Aquitaine (El Prado {Ire}), herself a half-sister to Listed October S. victrix Secret Garden (Ire) (Danehill). The April-foaled chestnut is a half-brother to stakes-winning G2 Prix de Royallieu runner-up Lady Of Kyushu (Smart Strike), the stakes-winning Clint Maroon (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). He is also kin to a yearling filly by Bated Breath (GB) and to the dam of GIII Honeymoon S. victrix Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Secret Garden, in turn, produced a trio of black-type winners headed by G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 Criterium International-winning sire Roderic O'Connor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Lake Forest's third dam is G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning British champion Durtal (Ire) (Lyphard).
A shock in the Gimcrack 👀
Lake Forest (16/1) was a beaten odds-on favourite at Newmarket last time but the No Nay Never colt proved that run all wrong by sweeping up the stands' side to land the @ABE_Dubai Gimcrack Stakes for William Haggas.@TomMarquand | @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/yigKDMEyjC
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 25, 2023
Friday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK S.-G2, £267,500, York, 8-25, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:09.91, g/f.
1–LAKE FOREST (GB), 128, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Lady Aquitaine (GSP-Eng), by El Prado (Ire)
2nd Dam: Chalamont (Ire), by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Durtal (Ire), by Lyphard
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (130,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Silver Racing; B-Sahara Group Holdings (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £151,699. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $226,535. *1/2 to Lady Of Kyushu (Smart Strike), SW & MGSP-Fr, $151,021; Clint Maroon (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SW-US, $234,173; and Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), MSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Johannes Brahms (GB), 128, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Illaunmore, by Shamardal. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Chasemore Farm (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £57,513.
3–King's Gamble (Ire), 128, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Zondaq, by Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (190,000gns Ylg ;22 TATOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Centerville Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £28,783.
Margins: 1, 1, 3 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 3.50, 4.50.
Also Ran: Action Point (Ire), Hala Emaraaty (Ire), Kylian (Ire), Jehangeer (Ire), Power Mode, Haatem (Ire), Emperor's Son (Ire).
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