By Sean Cronin
Roisin Henry's once-raced Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never–Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), who opened her account with a July 16 debut score tackling six furlongs at Doncaster, returned in style with a last-gasp victory in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp S. upped to seven for her black-type debut at Newmarket.
The 22-1 chance was steadied and shuffled back through the pack to race in rear after a slick exit. Nudged along to reduce arrears approaching the dip, she negotiated traffic to go seventh entering the final furlong and kept on powerfully up the hill to deny Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by a head in the dying strides for a career high.
“She had her first run at Doncaster and Richard [Fahey] said we will let her have a learning experience and she won which was fantastic,” the winning owner explained. “She then had a bit of break and we said we would let her have a bit of a run here today if the ground was soft enough. We didn't expect anything, we thought it was another bit of education as it was another step up, but that was fantastic. She was checked and I thought that had knocked the wind out of her sails. She was running well prior to that, but she battled on and she did that in her first race to. She is a battler.”
Reflecting on a difficult start to life for the filly, Mrs Henry added, “This filly was born by Caesarean section as they knew that the mare was in trouble, so the veterinary team in Coolmore and the Fethard Veterinary Hospital were amazing. When she was born they must have had 15 guys standing around her awaiting this foal. It was incredible. The fact we got a live foal was amazing and the fact the mare is still alive is amazing. She is really special. You don't expect these kind of ones to go on to be race fillies. She is very well bred and we thought we would hang on to her. It is so exciting. I've dreamt enough now, but if it doesn't get any better than this that's fine. The jockey [Oisin Orr] gave her a super ride and he was very confident with her. He rides her at home so he knows her which is lovely.”
Orr added, “Through the race I was on and off the bridle and when we can down to the two [-furlong pole] I really asked her. I was just tight of room for a stride or two, but I switched left she has quickened up nicely and done it well. She does everything well at home and has done nothing wrong on the racetrack so far. Hopefully she can keep on improving.”
Midnight Mile, full-sister to a yearling colt, is the third of four reported foals and lone runner out of a full-sister to G3 Noblesse S. and Listed Cheshire Oaks runner-up Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The January-foaled bay's dam is also kin to an additional five black-type performers headed by G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and the multiple Classic-placed G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Descendants of the latter include G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and G1 Fillies' Mile third You'll Be Mine (Kingmambo), herself the dam of multiple Group-winning G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Ranvet S. placegetter Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Midnight Mile's third dam is Lanwades Stud stalwart Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
GODOLPHIN LIFETIME CARE OH SO SHARP S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-7, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.75, gd.
1–MIDNIGHT MILE (IRE), 128, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Ruby Tuesday (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs Roisin Henry; B-Premier Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Oisin Orr. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $44,354. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lose Yourself (Ire), 128, f, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Stellar Path (Fr), by Astronomer Royal. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (260,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Valmont; B-J Hanly, A Stroud & T Stewart (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £12,900.
3–Small Oasis (GB), 128, f, 2, Sioux Nation–Collegiate (Ire), by Declaration of War. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (2,500gns RNA Ylg '21 TATSOM). O-John Nolan; B-Scarlett Knipe (GB); T-Michael Grassick. £6,456.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 22.00, 4.50, 10.00.
Also Ran: Tagline (GB), Crystallium (GB), Red N Blue Candy, Believing (Ire), Queen Olly (Ire), Rage Of Bamby (Ire), Youngest (GB), Immortal Beauty (Ire).
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