By Sean Cronin
Jeff Smith's G1 Nassau Stakes runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Arabian Queen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) had been winless in six starts since annexing her debut at Newmarket last year and rectified matters with a decisive success in Saturday's G3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York.
The 3-1 favourite was settled in rear, with just one behind, for most of this extended one-mile test. Coming under pressure to close approaching the quarter-mile marker, she threaded her way into contention passing the furlong pole and kept on strongly to deny Phantom Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}) and Checkandchallenge (GB) (Fast Company {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths and a short-head nearing the line.
“She was brilliant in the Nassau the last day and her work since has been great,” said Oisin Murphy. “She's been working with older horses that are in good form and she's been finding it very easy. I wasn't going to sit three wide on her, I wanted to get cover and maybe have horses to fill up on the back of before finding space. Arguably I was fortunate enough that it opened up on the inside, but she was very good at the line with her ears pricked. She's out of Arabian Queen, who won a Juddmonte International, she's a homebred for Littleton Stud and I'm delighted.”
Trainer Andrew Balding added, “We've always thought the world of this filly. She's beautiful to look at, she's always worked well and I've just got to thank [former trainer] David Elsworth for retiring when he did because I've reaped the rewards of having the mare's progeny. David did fabulously well with the family and Arabian Queen is an amazing broodmare. I'm delighted for Jeff [Smith] and David [Bowe] and everyone at Littleton [Stud] because these owner-breeders are so important. To get this calibre of horse is special.”
A seriously impressive turn of foot from See The Fire sees @oismurphy and @AndrewBalding2 land the @SkyBet Strensall Stakes in splendid style 👏 pic.twitter.com/zAVGA2jx09
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 24, 2024
Pedigree Notes
See The Fire is the fourth of seven foals foal and one of five scorers out of G1 Juddmonte International S. heroine Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who also produced last year's Listed King Charles II Stakes third Arabian Storm (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a yearling colt by St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and a weanling filly by No Nay Never. Arabian Queen is the leading performer for dual G2 Lancashire Oaks victrix Barshiba (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), herself kin to Listed Stonehenge Stakes victor Doctor Dash (GB) (Dr Fong) out of Listed Upavon Fillies' Stakes runner-up Dashiba (GB) (Dashing Blade {GB}). The March-foaled homebred chestnut hails from the family of dual G1 Irish St Leger winner Oscar Schindler (Ire) (Royal Academy), G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Northern Treasure (Northfields) and G1 Oaks d'Italia victrix Paris Royal (Ire) (Mill Reef).
Saturday, York, Britain
SKY BET STRENSALL STAKES-G3, £170,000, York, 8-24, 3yo/up, 8f 177yT, 1:49.96, g/f.
1–SEE THE FIRE (GB), 123, f, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Arabian Queen (Ire) (G1SW-Eng, $1,133,280), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Barshiba (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dashiba (GB), by Dashing Blade (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-J C Smith; B-Littleton Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £96,407. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 8-2-2-1, $497,567. *1/2 to Arabian Storm (GB) (Kingman {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Phantom Flight (GB), 133, g, 5, Siyouni (Fr)–Qushchi (GB), by Encosta De Lago (Aus). (100,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; 100,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Victorious Racing; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-George Scott. £36,550.
3–Checkandchallenge (GB), 133, g, 5, Fast Company (Ire)–Likeable (GB), by Dalakhani (Ire). (35,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Mr A. Hetherton; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-W. J. Knight. £18,292.
Margins: 1 3/4, SHD, 2. Odds: 3.00, 7.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Task Force (GB), Enfjaar (Ire), Royal Dubai (Fr), Flight Plan (GB), Haunted Dream (Ire), Alyanaabi (Ire).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
