By Tom Frary
Fourth behind TDN Rising Star Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) in a 10-furlong Wetherby novice Apr. 25, Apple Tree Stud's Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) was on top at the end of a close call for Saturday's Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial. Shadowing the leader Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) throughout the early stages, the 28-1 shot worked her way to the front with over a furlong remaining and dug in to prevail by 3/4 of a length from Save a Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) with less than two lengths covering the first four home.
Apple Tree Stud's manager is the former leading jumps jockey Robert Thornton and he said, “She wasn't far behind John Gosden's horse [Loving Dream] at Wetherby last time and there were extenuating circumstances for our filly, as she was stood in the stalls for 10 minutes and got shuffled back. We thought she'd run well today, but she's surprised us that she's won.” As far as a tilt at the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks is concerned, Thornton was positive. “I think we sort of have to–I'm not sure how many chances you get to do that type of thing and it's a dream to have runners in those type of races,” he added. “She's handled all types of ground and handled the undulations today, so we may as well have a go. She'll stay galloping, so you never know, she could run into a place.”
Successful on her only other start on Newcastle's Tapeta Feb. 11, Sherbet Lemon is a half-sister to the strong-staying G1 Melbourne Cup third Il Paradiso (Galileo {Ire}) and to the stakes-placed Love Beach (Bernardini). The dam, who was runner-up in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. for Ballydoyle, is a full-sister to the four-times group 1-winning champion and successful Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Mastercraftsman (Ire) and a half to the GIII Locust Grove H. winner Genuine Devotion (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). This is also the family of the brilliant G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sakhee (Bahri), fellow sire Celestial Storm (Roberto) and the G2 Middleton S. winner Beautiful Romance (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Her 2-year-old colt Bad Gus is by More Than Ready, while she also has a filly foal by Tapit.
Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
NOVIBET OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' S.-Listed, £40,000, Lingfield, 5-8, 3yo, f, 11f 133yT, 2:40.99, sf.
1–SHERBET LEMON, 126, f, 3, by Lemon Drop Kid
1st Dam: Famous (Ire) (G1SP-Ire, $210,166), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Starlight Dreams, by Black Tie Affair (Ire)
3rd Dam: Reves Celestes, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($200,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Apple Tree Stud; B-Mt Brilliant Broodmares II LLC (KY); T-Archie Watson; J-Paul Mulrennan. £22,992. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $37,373. *1/2 to Il Paradiso (Galileo {Ire), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 14f+, G1SP-Aus & GSP-Eng, $465,393.
2–Save A Forest (Ire), 126, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Bark (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-The Gredley Family; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £8,724.
3–Ocean Road (Ire), 126, f, 3, Australia (GB)–Love and Laughter (Ire), by Theatrical (Ire). (140,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 150,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Kevin & Meta Cullen (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £4,364.
Margins: 3/4, 1, NK. Odds: 28.00, 12.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Divinely (Ire), Loving Dream (GB), Nash Nasha (GB), Technique (GB), Regent (GB). Scratched: Invite (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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