By Tom Frary
Few horses can defy a penalty in a pattern race at somewhere like Deauville, but few are built like Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) and the stalwart of the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate was at it again on Monday when beating off smart rivals in the G3 Prix de Lieurey. Now the proud bearer of four black-type titles, the George Boughey-trained 3-year-old was under an extra three-pound burden having conquered Goodwood's G3 Oak Tree S. over seven furlongs July 27 which had been her fourth outing during the month.
Out for the second time subsequently, the bay who had taken the G3 Prix Six Perfections at last year's Deauville August meeting was settled in the cat-bird seat early by Ryan Moore and looked in trouble passing two out as the question was asked once again. Finding plenty in customary game fashion, the 11-2 shot battled ahead of By All Means (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) inside the last 100 metres to score by a neck, with Samahram (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) who had been an unlucky third behind the winner in the Oak Tree holding every chance this time but finishing in the same spot, another half a length away with no excuses.
“She's a remarkable filly–she's only had the saddle on her back four times inbetween runs, but she's so tenacious and I don't think I'll ever train another horse as gutsy as her,” Boughey said. “She had to travel 12 hours in this heat and she's an advert for Nick Bradley–he wanted to run where I possibly might not have–and for everyone at home, but she was so fresh the other morning I had to put her on the box and bring her. She's very good around a bend, so I'd like to go for the Foret–they would go a good gallop and it can come up soft for that.”
Since debuting last May, Oscula has also won the Listed Eternal S. at Carlisle and Epsom's Woodcote S. and been placed in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp, Newmarket's G2 Rockfel S., this venue's G2 Prix du Calvados and Ascot's G3 Valiant S. and G3 Albany S. as well as three listed races. The dam Bisous Y Besos (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) is a half to the dual listed-placed Coeur d'Amour (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) related to the G2 Mill Reef S. scorer and G1 Golden Jubilee S. runner-up Galeota (Ire) (Mujadil), the G3 Sirenia S.-winning half-siblings Brown Sugar (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Burnt Sugar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), last year's G2 Mill Reef S. winner Wings Of War (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who was third in Saturday's G2 Hungerford S., and the classy sprinting half-siblings Darkanna (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Logo Hunter (Ire) (Brazen Beau {Aus}). Boughey also has charge of her unraced 2-year-old colt Apex (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}), who was bought by Highclere for €100,000 at the Goffs Orby, while her yearling colt by Prince Of Lir (Ire) was purchased for €60,000 by Robson Aguiar at the Goffs November Foal Sale and is catalogued in next month's Orby.
Monday, Deauville, France
PRIX DE LIEUREY-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 8-15, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:42.18, g/s.
1–OSCULA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo Gold (GB)
1st Dam: Bisous Y Besos (Ire), by Big Bad Bob (Ire)
2nd Dam: Adoring (Ire), by One Cool Cat
3rd Dam: Refined (Ire), by Statoblest (Ire)
(4,000gns Ylg '20 TATOC). O-Nick Bradley Racing 20; B-Padraig Williams (IRE); T-George Boughey; J-Ryan Moore. €40,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, 19-6-3-6, €348,535. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–By All Means (Ire), 125, f, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Majenta (Ire), by Marju (Ire).
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (80,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA). O-Giacomo Algranti & Haras d'Etreham; B-Kenilworth House Stud (IRE); T-Mario Baratti. €16,000.
3–Samahram (Fr), 125, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Djumama (Ire), by Aussie Rules. (€160,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Stall Phillip I (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €12,000.
Margins: NK, HF, 1HF. Odds: 5.60, 5.00, 1.90.
Also Ran: Sound Angela (GB), Nadette (Fr), Blue Wings (Fr), Nectaris (GB), Cantilena (Ire), Hot Queen (Fr), Situveux (Ire), Slevka (Fr), Loch Lundie (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
Oscula is so brave! @gbougheyracing and Ryan Moore combine to win the Group Three Prix De Lieurey at @fgdeauville for @NBradleyRacing…pic.twitter.com/ynXdOkFLwh
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) August 15, 2022
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