By Sean Cronin
Henry de Bromhead trainee Term Of Endearment (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}–Miss You Too {GB}. by Montjeu {Ire}) accounted for Night Sparkle (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}) and River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in May's G3 Bronte Cup at York and doubled up in game fashion to lead home a repeat trifecta in Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood.
Positioned behind the leaders in fourth until well beyond the halfway mark in this 14-furlong stamina test, the 15-2 chance made continued headway in the straight to gain control soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out in the closing stages to defeat the Bronte Cup vanquished by 3/4-of-a-length and the same.
“It is my first runner here, we've had a lovely time, we've been well looked after and we're having a great day,” said trainer Henry de Bromhead. “I am not sure I ever go anywhere with confidence, but Term Of Endearment had won a couple of Group 3s, so it seemed like the natural progression. She is probably settling much better, so we can ride her closer to the pace. Before, we always felt she needed soft ground, but I think that was more to bring out her stamina. I was concerned about the [good-to-firm] ground here today, but she seemed to love it. All options are open, she's in the [G1] Irish St Leger and I think there is a nice race at York, so we'll see.”
Rider Billy Lee added, “It's my first time here and Term Of Endearment has done it well. She jumped nicely and got me into a good rhythm the whole way. I tracked Oisin [Murphy] and this filly picked up well down the hill. My only worry was this is the quickest ground she has been on, but she cruised into the race. I was probably there a bit too soon, but I knew that she would stay as she is as fit as a flea. I committed and, to be fair, she galloped all the way to the line. She just drifted left a bit, as she did in York, but I had no worries and she wasn't going to stop. I think she is maybe improving and a step up to two miles might not be out of her reach. It would be nice to see how far she can go.”
Andrew Balding, trainer of runner-up Night Sparkle, said, “She has run a great race and I am very pleased. She has put in three really good efforts this year and deserves to win a stakes race at some stage. She's got York options, so we'll have a look. Top of the ground is important to her.”
Ralph Beckett was also satisfied with the performance of third home River Of Stars and commented, “She ran very well, but I think they go quicker in three-mile chases. She ran a sound race and we're pleased with her. We will wait for the [G2] Park Hill [at Doncaster], probably.”
A big Flat prize for @HenrydeBromhead
Progressive mare stays on best under @wjlee24786 to land the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes.#QatarGoodwoodFestival #GloriousGoodwood @Qatar_Racing | @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/4KNHaH9L4s
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 3, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Term Of Endearment, one of her sire's 19 Group-race winners, is the leading performer from four scorers produced by stakes-winning G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud third Miss You Too (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). Miss You Too is a full-sister to G3 Killavullan Stakes runner-up Vitruvian Man (GB) and a granddaughter of Starlight Smile (Green Dancer). Starlight Smile is also the second dam of G1 Irish Oaks G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) while her half-sister Summer Trysting (Alleged) produced three Group winners headed by multiple Group 1 winner Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Summer Trysting is also the second dam of G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois-winning freshman sire Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Miss You Too has a 2-year-old filly by Ardad (Ire) to come.
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR LILLIE LANGTRY STAKES-G2, £300,000, Goodwood, 8-3, 3yo/up, f, 14fT, 3:02.91, g/f.
1–TERM OF ENDEARMENT (GB), 135, m, 5, by Sea The Moon (Ger)
1st Dam: Miss You Too (GB) (SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $232,604), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Portrait Of A Lady (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Starlight Smile, by Green Dancer
(50,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Mrs C Acheson; B-Andrew Whitlock (GB); T-Henry de Bromhead; J-Billy Lee. £170,130. Lifetime Record: 11-4-2-1, $366,562. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Night Sparkle (Ire), 135, m, 5, Postponed (Ire)–Rose Diamond (Ire), by Daylami (Ire). (32,000gns 3yo '22 TATMA). O-Mrs Barbara M Keller; B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £64,500.
3–River Of Stars (Ire), 135, m, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Amazone (Ger), by Adlerflug (Ger). (400,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA). O-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Dr Klaus Schulte (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £32,280.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 7.50, 8.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Caius Chorister (Fr), Dancing Tango (Ire), Grateful (Ire), Melo Melo (GB), Free Wind (Ire). Scratched: Divine Comedy (Ire), Sumo Sam (GB), Sweet Memories (Ire), Oxford Comma (Ire).
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