By Tom Frary
It was another episode of the O'Brien family show at Newmarket on Friday, as junior once again upstaged senior on the big stage courtesy of Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) in the G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile. Upping her game after a latest third in Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. over seven furlongs Sept. 15, the Piltown representative relished the extra trip to register a 14-1 upset from the Ballydoyle runner Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Always in striking distance of the leaders under Wayne Lordan, the bay wore down Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) a furlong out and held off the 5-2 favourite to lead another Joseph-Aidan O'Brien one-two by 1 1/2 lengths, with Pretty Pollyanna 3/4 of a length away in third. “She was always held in high regard and back up to a mile was a huge plus,” her rider said of the winner, who was registering a first black-type winner for her Derby-winning sire. “Lack of experience caught her out before, but she was good today.”
When Iridessa ran by Cardini (Magician {Ire}) and on to a four-length success on debut over a mile at Killarney July 17, there was an element of surprise and therefore much to take from the performance. On the face of it, her subsequent fifth in the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh Aug. 26 was a shade underwhelming but Hermosa was just behind on that occasion and she showed enough in the Ingabelle to suggest she retained promise. With the high winds an issue on the Rowley Mile on Friday, it was beneficial that she was racing under cover for most of the contest dominated by Beyond Reason (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Pretty Pollyanna. The latter looked all over the winner with a quarter mile remaining, but Lordan was on the case in behind as Donnacha O'Brien worked at Hermosa on the outside. As the Irish pair joined the G1 Prix Morny a furlong from home, the writing was on the wall with their stamina assured but the Michael Bell runner kept on gamely to the line in an inconclusive performance.
“I couldn't say it was expected, but we've always loved her,” Joseph said. “It was a very messy race at the Curragh and they hacked and then sprinted for two furlongs and she was drawn almost widest of all on the inside track at Leopardstown so had an impossible task there. More than improving, it is a case that she didn't have a fair crack at it the last two times really but she got a great ride from Wayne who kept her out of the wind today. It shows how good she is and she is entitled to a crack at the Guineas, but being by her sire she's probably more of an Oaks filly. She's bred to go at least ten furlongs, but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before then.”
The winning trainer's brother Donnacha said of Hermosa, “She ran very well and the winner got a little bit more cover than me, which might have made the difference. She's a very good filly and will be better next year.” Danny Tudhope was riding Pretty Pollyanna for the first time and said of her, “She's run great. She travelled really well and I thought I was the winner at the two pole, but just got caught out in the last 100 yards. It was her first time beyond six furlongs and a big step up, but I think she stayed and I think it is worth giving a mile another crack.” Her trainer Michael Bell added, “That was a fantastic run, it was just a pity the Irish had to invade! She looked as though she got the trip and it opens up options for next year. It was her first time running beyond six furlongs, so it was a different style of racing, but she has run a very good race. I would say she would almost certainly run in a [Guineas] trial.”
Iridessa's dam Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill), who was purchased for just 14,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Sale, is a daughter of Starine (Fr) (Mendocino) who captured the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, GI Matriarch S. and GII Diana H. She also has a yearling colt by Australia (GB) and a filly foal by Camelot (GB).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
FIRST STAKES WINNER FOR SIRE
BET365 FILLIES' MILE-G1, £500,000, Newmarket, 10-12, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.80, g/f.
1–IRIDESSA (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Ruler of the World (Ire)
1st Dam: Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Starine (Fr), by Mendocino
3rd Dam: Grisonnante (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. £283,550. Lifetime Record: SP-Ire, 4-2-0-1, $402,840. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hermosa (Ire), 126, f, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Beauty Is Truth (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Beauty Is Truth Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £107,500.
3–Pretty Pollyanna (GB), 126, f, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)">Oasis Dream (GB)–Unex Mona Lisa (GB), by Shamardal. (50,000gns RNA Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-W J & T C O Gredley; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (GB); T-Michael Bell. £53,800.
Margins: 1HF, 3/4, 4. Odds: 14.00, 2.50, 3.50.
Also Ran: Shambolic (Ire), Zagitova (Ire), Layaleena (Ire), Beyond Reason (Ire), Antonia de Vega (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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