By Tom Frary
Rebounding from a rare below-par effort when eighth in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 9, Ballydoyle's Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) was in battling mood on Saturday as he edged out One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in Doncaster's G2 bet365 Park S. Well-supported into 11-4 favouritism, the bay who was so close to winning the G1 2000 Guineas was in front of two others racing far side under Frankie Dettori throughout the early stages. Gaining the advantage passing the furlong pole, he had to dig deep as One Master thrusted late and was behind a stride before the line but had his nose down where it mattered to score by a short head. Molatham (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) was two lengths away in third in a strong renewal which puts the winner back in the winner's spot for the first time since the G3 Somerville Tattersall S. a year ago. “He was a bit lazy after getting rid of the two on either side, but Tom [Marquand] came very quick at me. It was hard to tell if we'd won, but he's a lovely horse who deserved it.”
Coming back to the track at which he was second to Molatham in the Listed Flying Scotsman S. 12 months earlier, Wichita was gaining compensation for a neck defeat by Kameko (Kitten's Joy) in the June 6 Newmarket Classic. Also third in Royal Ascot's G1 St James's Palace S. June 20 and fifth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 29 before his below-par Maurice de Gheest effort, he has become a regular mount for Dettori who added, “He was a bit flat at Deauville last time, but he was fresh today. He's been a model of consistency and I'm pleased that he put his head in front today. I think seven furlongs is spot-on for him.”
Wichita is the last known foal out of the listed scorer Lumiere Noire (Fr) (Dashing Blade {GB}), who is a half-sister to the GI Manhattan H. hero Desert Blanc (GB) (Desert Style {Ire}). Their dam Lumiere Rouge (Fr) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) is a half-sister to the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner and G1 Grand Criterium and G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua runner-up Signe Divin (Bering {GB}), while the family also features the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}). She is the second dam of this year's G1 Phoenix S. hero Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who could bring up a notable double for the family in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. This is also the family of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) and this year's Listed Dragon S. winner Gussy Mac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
BET365 PARK S.-G2, £80,000, Doncaster, 9-12, 3yo/up, 7f 6yT, 1:25.12, gd.
1–WICHITA (IRE), 126, c, 3, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Lumiere Noire (Fr) (SW-Ger, $107,446), by Dashing Blade (GB)
2nd Dam: Lumiere Rouge (Fr), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lumen Dei, by Raise a Native
(140,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-W Maxwell Ervine (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £45,368. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 9-3-2-2, $297,342. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–One Master (GB), 127, m, 6, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Enticing (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Lael Stable; B-Lael Stables (GB); T-William Haggas. £17,200.
3–Molatham (GB), 126, c, 3, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Cantal (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (160,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Roger Varian. £8,608.
Margins: NO, 2, NK. Odds: 2.75, 3.50, 3.00.
Also Ran: Urban Icon (GB), Limato (Ire), Shine So Bright (GB), Breathtaking Look (GB), Marie's Diamond (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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