By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's €260,000 Arqana August graduate Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}–Setsuko {Fr}, by Shamardal), who came back off a June 13 debut triumph at Nottingham with a third-place finish in Newmarket's July 11 G2 July Stakes, stepped forward in impressive fashion to secure a stakes breakthrough in Tuesday's G2 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The 2-1 favourite was slick from the gates and occupied a forward position along the rail in third through halfway. Biding his time in the straight, he was the last of seven to come off the bridle inside the final quarter-mile and quickened stylishly once seizing control with 150 yards remaining to easily hold the late rattle of Wolf Of Badenoch (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths. Aomori City becomes the second winner of the seven-furlong contest for Charlie Appleby, whose first was 2019 hero and the runner-up's sire Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal).
“William [Buick] obviously decided to angle out just before the cutaway and he was travelling well,” said Appleby. “When they've ran to that level over six, you are going to be confident they are going to travel well and he did that. Once Will decided it was time to give him a kick, he had plenty of horse under him. On the evidence of what we saw in the July Stakes, we thought coming into this race that stepping up to seven would suit, and he cut it at a decent level there. We had toyed with the idea of the [GI] Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for Aomori City over the past couple of weeks, but Al Qudra went and won on Saturday and he's probably a horse we'll pinpoint towards that race. It doesn't mean we can't run two in it and we'll keep all options open for Aomori City. Today was a marked improvement on what we saw before. He was neat and had to be brave there. He got tightened up on the turns and that does no harm in educating them towards the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Buick added, “Being where we were was always the plan, but we just had to tussle for our position at the top of the hill and round the turn. It gave a bit of pressure, but he was very brave and got stuck in. Aomori City is a pretty well-seasoned two-year-old and knows his job, which is always a help round here, and I was really pleased with his performance. He sort of does what he has to in front, but I thought he won well and I think he'll improve.”
Wolf Of Badenoch's trainer Hugo Palmer said, “He still looks like a work in progress and I am absolutely delighted. He was the first one off the bridle and ultimately the winner just got first run on him. He is a horse with a really exciting future and he will stay a mile this year. His dam stayed 14 furlongs and he might get 10 furlongs next year. He has some nice entries, we put him in the [G1 Vincent O'Brien] National Stakes in Ireland and we will put him in the [G1] Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as well now.”
City slicker!
(2-1f) strides purposefully clear under @WilliamBuickX in the @HKJC_Racing @WorldPool Vintage Stakes @Goodwood_Races
Charlie Appleby and @godolphin last won this with Pinatubo, who was a steady horse ….#BetWithTheWorld pic.twitter.com/9sYgUZf7Km
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 30, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Aomori City is the latest of two foals and one of two scorers produced by an unraced half-sister to G3 Prix Noailles and G3 Prix Exbury victor Soleil Marin (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}). The February-foaled dark bay's second dam Sousmarine (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) is a daughter of G2 Prix de Malleret runner-up Underwater (Theatrical {Ire}) and thus a half-sister to G3 Prix de Lutece third Investissement (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), Listed Prix Frederic de Lagrange runner-up No Joy (Kitten's Joy) and to the dam of Listed Prix Caravelle second City Girl (Fr) (City Light {Fr}).
Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
HKJC WORLD POOL VINTAGE STAKES-G2, £175,000, Goodwood, 7-30, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.13, gd.
1–AOMORI CITY (FR), 129, c, 2, by Oasis Dream (GB)
1st Dam: Setsuko (Fr), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Sousmarine (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
3rd Dam: Underwater, by Theatrical (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€260,000 Ylg '23 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair & SAS Ecurie Peregrine (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £99,243. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $145,643. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Wolf Of Badenoch (GB), 129, c, 2, Pinatubo (Ire)–Miss Latin (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Mrs Fitri Hay (GB); T-Hugo Palmer. £37,625.
3–Cool Hoof Luke (GB), 129, c, 2, Advertise (GB)–Dutch Monument (GB), by Dutch Art (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (16,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; €20,000 Ylg '23 TATIRY). O-John Wallinger & Partner; B-Tony Nerses (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £18,830.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1HF, SHD. Odds: 3.00, 14.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Tiger Mask (Ire), An Outlaw's Grace (Ire), Electrolyte (Ire), Arabian Sun (Ire). Scratched: The Parthenon (Ire).
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