By Sean Cronin
Joseph O'Brien trainee Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Under Offer {Ire}, by Bated Breath {GB}) was a four-start maiden heading into Sunday's G3 Weld Park S. at the Curragh and returned home with black-type and a first win of any kind after making all under Declan McDonogh in the seven-furlong juvenile fillies' heat. The 12-1 chance had collected prizemoney in all outings to date and went postward for this stakes debut coming back off a short-head second at Punchestown earlier in the month. Basil Martini, the sharpest of 10 into stride, dictated at a solid tempo until beyond halfway. Rowed along to maintain her advantage approaching the quarter-mile marker, she refused to yield and was driven out inside the final furlong to hold the closing pack by a half length in game fashion.
“She generally is quick away and leads and it was a really tough performance,” said O'Brien. “Declan [McDonogh] said she really felt good today, she's a progressive filly and has held her form very well all the way through. For the last furlong-and-a-half I was wondering what was going to come and get her, but she just kept finding. I'd say that is probably it for this season, she is a Group winner now and is a nice filly to look forward to next spring.”
Pedigree Notes:
Basil Martini, who becomes the 15th pattern-race scorer for her sire (by Choisir {Aus}), is the first of three foals produced by a daughter of Argentina's G2 Marcos Levalle victrix Bailonguera (Arg) (Southern Halo). She is a half-sister to a yearling filly by Footstepsinthesand (GB) and a weanling filly by Mehmas (Ire). Bailonguera, kin to the G1 De Honor heroine Bonaventura (Arg) (Merce Cunningham), is the dam of three black-type perfomers, headed by Listed Prix Petite Etoile victrix Bayargal (Bernstein), and her descendants also include dual Group 3-winning G1 Steward's Cup second Joyful Trinity (Ire) (Zanzibari) and this term's G3 Prix de Meautry hero Bouttemont (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). Bailonguera's half-sister Baleares (Arg) (Senor Pete) is the dam of dual Group 1-winning Argentinian champion Batallosa (Arg) (Southern Halo). Basil Martini's Footstepsinthesand half-sister is due to sell as lot 805 at this week's Goffs Sportsman's sale.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
WELD PARK S.-G3, €55,000, Curragh, 9-25, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.20, yl.
1–BASIL MARTINI (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Under Offer (Ire), by Bated Breath (GB)
2nd Dam: Bailonguera (Arg), by Southern Halo
3rd Dam: Balromana (Arg), by Logical
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (£160,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Mrs M V Magnier & Mrs Paul Shanahan; B-Summit Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €33,000. Lifetime Record: 5-1-3-0, $43,635. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gan Teorainn (Ire), 128, f, 2, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Dance Troupe (GB), by Rainbow Quest. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Ennistown Stud (IRE); T-Jim Bolger. €11,000.
3–Keep In Touch (Ire), 128, f, 2, Tamayuz (GB)–Unaccompanied (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €5,500.
Margins: HF, NK, NK. Odds: 12.00, 28.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: Clever And Cool (Ire), Dower House (Ire), Caroline Street, Sioux Spirit (Ire), Maybe Just Maybe (Jpn), Decorated My Life (Ire), Pandora Lovegood (Ire).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
