By Sean Cronin
Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unbeaten 2-year-old filly Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never–Pembina {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) impressed with a 3 1/4-length debut tally tackling five furlongs at the Curragh last month and was equally adept over the six-furlong strip at Naas to secure Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. en route to next month's G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot. Positioned in a close second after the initial strides, the 2-1 joint-favourite loomed large passing the quarter-mile marker and came under a late drive to assert superiority nearing the line for a career high on stakes bow. Joint-favourite Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) attempted to wire the field, but was swamped for the minors in the dying strides and ran fourth. Comhra (Ire) (Vocalised) closed with a rattle to finish 1 1/4 lengths off the winner in second, a neck ahead of It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).
“She's very laid back at home, so she's a hard filly to get a read on, and I'm delighted with her,” said Aidan O'Brien. “She won very nicely at the Curragh, she stepped up in distance here and Wayne [Lordan] was delighted with her today. The Sioux Nation filly [Matilda Picotte] went a good gallop, she was good at the Curragh, and we thought she was going to be a big danger. We were delighted that she was able to pick her up, but we weren't sure that would happen and six furlongs obviously suited her. We were hoping to come here and, if everything went well, then have a look at the [G3] Albany with her. We think that's what we'll do, obviously we'll talk to the lads, but I think that's the route she'll be going.”
Meditate, who becomes the 19th pattern-race winner for sire (by Scat Daddy), is the latest of four foals and one of two scorers for Pembina (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who is a winning daughter of Listed Prix Imprudence victrix Mahalia (Ire) (Danehill). Mahalia's eight winners include G3 Prix Quincey-winning sire Johnny Barnes (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and G3 Prix de Flore victrix Albisola (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Mahalia is kin to five black-type performers, headed by G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron victor Muroto (GB) (Busted {GB}), and to the stakes-placed dam of G2 Premio Ellington victor and G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club third Ivan Luis (Fr) (Lycius). She is also the ancestress of G1 Criterium International and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic hero Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), G1 St James's Palace S.-winning sire Most Improved (Ire) and the GSW trio of Lismore (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Thikriyaat (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).
Sunday, Naas, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD IRISH EBF FILLIES SPRINT S.-G3, €68,000, Naas, 5-15, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT, 1:11.41, 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
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€360,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €40,800. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $54,032. Werk Nick Rating: First SW from this cross. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Comhra (Ire), 128, f, 2, Vocalised–Gold Mirage (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €13,600.
3–It's Showtime Baby (GB), 128, f, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Minoria (GB), by Harbour Watch (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP TYPE. (52,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Alpha Racing 2022; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Jessica Harrington. €6,800.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NK. Odds: 2.00, 3.50, 11.00.
Also Ran: Matilda Picotte (Ire), Treasure Trove (Ire), La Dolce Vita (Ire), Comanche Country (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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