By Tom Frary
Stepping up after suffering a defeat at the hands of the dynamic filly Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Listed Star Appeal S. at Dundalk Sept. 30, Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) mastered his rivals in Saturday's G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown to add another string to Ballydoyle's remarkable juvenile bow.
Never far from the pace set by Bold Discovery (Bolt D'Oro), the 5-2 favourite took over from that rival approaching the furlong pole and stayed on strongly for a 2 3/4-length success from stablemate Sierra Blanca (Ire) (No Nay Never), who denied Bold Discovery by a neck.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said, “I think the proper gallop helped him today. He's a lovely horse physically and he's done everything right so far. He's in the Group 1 in France next weekend [the Criterium International], but that will probably come too soon. The second horse ran a lovely race and he'll come on again.”
Pedigree Notes
Cairo, who had broken his maiden over a mile at The Curragh Aug. 27, is the third foal out of the Listed Coolmore Stud E.B.F. Sprint S. winner Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was not seen again after finishing fifth in the G3 Albany S. on her next start. She is a full-sister to five former Ballydoyle notables, headed by the G2 Superlative S.-winning sire Gustav Klimt (Ire) who was also placed in the G1 St James's Palace S., G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 Prix Jean Prat. Also a full-sibling of the St James's Palace third Mars (Ire) and the G3 Silver Flash S. scorer Wonderfully (Ire), Cuff is a daughter of the listed-winning Massarra (GB) (Danehill).
Massarra, a full-sister to Kodiac (GB) and half to the sire sensation Invincible Spirit (Ire), also produced the G1 Gran Criterium scorer Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and is the second dam of the Listed Lingfield Derby and Oaks Trial winners Kilimanjaro (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Hertford Dancer (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}). She is connected to Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who needs no introduction as the ground-breaking G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Juddmonte International and Saudi Cup hero. Cuff's yearling filly is by No Nay Never, while she also has a colt foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KILLAVULLAN S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 10-15, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.73, y/s.
1–CAIRO (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Quality Road
1st Dam: Cuff (Ire) (SW-Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Massarra (GB), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rafha (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-D Smith, Mrs J
Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan
O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0,
$50,929. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sierra Blanca (Ire), 131, c, 2, No Nay Never–Alexandrova
(Ire), by Sadler's Wells. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK
TYPE. O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith;
B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Bold Discovery, 131, c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Caribbean Babe, by
Arch. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg
'21 KEESEP). O-Marc Chan; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Jessica
Harrington. €5,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, NK, HF. Odds: 2.50, 5.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: Bay of Plenty (Ire), Clever And Cool (Ire), Imadpour (Ire), King of Scotia (Ire), Tiverton (GB), Bossy Parker (Ire), Lakota Seven (Ire), Daamberdiplomat (Ire). VIDEO.
🇪🇬 Cairo rides on a night boat to glory in the €50,000 G3 Killavullan Stakes for @waynemlordan & @Ballydoyle in the feature at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/UU0G9aQcV5
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 15, 2022
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