One Master Swoops For Oak Tree Success

Lael Stable's globetrotting One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) had saluted just once in 10 starts since annexing the 2018 G1 Prix de Foret, doubling up in the latest renewal of that seven-furlong test, and she went postward for Friday's G3 Saint Clair Oak Tree S. at Goodwood as the 6-4 favourite coming back off a close-up fourth in this month's G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket. Settled in a midfield seventh along the rail after an alert getaway from the inside stall, she was caught in a pocket–a la Kameko in Wednesday's G1 Sussex S.–passing the quarter-mile marker and engaged turbo after weaving a passage into second with 100 yards remaining to nail 12-1 chance Valeria Messalina (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) by a short-head on the line for her first pattern-race success on home soil. Godolphin's Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who sparred briefly with the eventual winner passing the furlong marker, ran on well to finish one length further adrift in third.

“That is our 30th winner in July and I get all the glory and my team do all the work,” said winning trainer William Haggas, who sits third by number of winners since racing resumed June 1. “I had a walk round this morning and I thought it was too firm for One Master. However, there is a beautiful strip of ground down to the three [-furlong pole], from the start, and there is still a little bit of give in there. I felt, drawn in stall one, she would be able to go round there on the bridle into the straight. I was fearful and I won't be relaxed until I see her tomorrow, but she is a really genuine filly. I said to the owners last night that we're drawn in stall one, we are going to run on the rail and ride her for luck. It is a terrible place, Goodwood, in terms of getting boxed in, but she will be on the bridle and it won't hurt her. Tom managed to get out and it was great. She has a terrific turn of foot in this company and she has a terrific turn of foot in better company.” Haggas also revealed One Master remains on target for another defence of her Foret title on Arc weekend, adding, “We are going to York now, for a Group 2 race [Aug. 22 G2 City of York S.], and then the [Oct. 4 G1 Prix de la] Foret [at ParisLongchamp].”

“I wasn't quite sure whether I would get there on the line, but what an exceptional performance,” said rider Tom Marquand. “To be able to pick up from where we were, she is a class apart. She has won Group 1s, but for her to show that turn of foot today on ground she doesn't really enjoy is pretty exceptional. She has always been a filly who has needed that cover early on and it was always the plan just to sit in a little bit. William [Haggas] left it very much up to me as to how far back or forward I needed to be and the only thing he did say when he wandered round the track was that the fresh ground was all down the inside and try not to leave the paint. I played that to the furlong pole, and then thought something's got to give at some point. It was lucky that I was on such a talented filly and how tough she was, when not really enjoying the ground, to pick up in a matter of two strides and pick off the leader. It's a real thrill to ride a horse like that and I would love to sit on her in a Group 1 on the ground she actually loves.”

One Master's dam Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) had an affinity with the Sussex venue, winning both G3 Molecomb S. and G3 King George S. over the track's five-furlong strip, and she is also the second dam of last term's G3 Killavullan S. victress Stela Star (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}). One Master, who has plied her trade in five different countries, is one of four winners and the lone black-type performer for her dam, who has also produced the unraced 3-year-old gelding Craved (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), the unraced 2-year-old filly Arousing (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and a 2020 full-brother to the winner. Enticing, a half-sister to stakes-winning G3 Jersey S. second Sentaril (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), is a daughter of connections' G1 Phoenix S. and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye runner-up and MGSW European champion juvenile filly Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}).

Friday, Goodwood, Britain
SAINT CLAIR OAK TREE S.-G3, £50,000, Goodwood, 7-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT, 1:25.80, gd.
1–ONE MASTER (GB), 129, m, 6, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Enticing (Ire) (MGSW-Eng, $260,363), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Superstar Leo (Ire), by College Chapel (GB)
3rd Dam: Council Rock (GB), by General Assembly
O-Lael Stable; B-Lael Stables (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 2x Hwt. Older Mare-Fr at 7-9.5f, MG1SW-Fr, GSW-Ire & MG1SP-Eng, 19-6-2-3, $966,139. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Valeria Messalina (Ire), 125, f, 3, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Arty Crafty, by Arch. O-Marc Chan; B-Airlie Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. £10,750.
3–Althiqa (GB), 122, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Mistrusting (Ire), by Shamardal. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £5,380.
Margins: SHD, 1, 2. Odds: 1.50, 12.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Breathtaking Look (GB), Anna Nerium (GB), Invitational (GB), Wasmya (Fr), Under the Stars (Ire), Shadn (Ire), Agincourt (Ire), Graceful Magic (GB), Boomer (GB). Scratched: Final Song (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.