By Tom Frary
All who witnessed the Doncaster debut success of Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Sulaalaat {GB}, by New Approach {Ire})) already knew that she was a talented performer, but Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's imposing chestnut had to show it where it matters and she duly delivered in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel S. at Newmarket.
Gifted an ideal lead, a strong pace and fast conditions in this seven-furlong “Win and You're In” for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the Crisfords' 7-2 shot was not for catching once James Doyle had committed passing two out.
Despite the admirable effort of the 13-8 favourite Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) from an impossible position, the contest had already been decided and there was a safe 2 1/4-length margin between them at the line. Ballydoyle's G3 Silver Flash S.-winning TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was back to form a further 2 1/2 lengths away in third, but was outpaced some way out in a race that looked top-level in all but name.
Carla's Way, who had showed she could run as fast as only the best can do when defeating the smart pair Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Serene Seraph (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) on her introduction 20 days before disappointing when eighth in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, had undergone a wind operation before finishing second to the subsequent G2 May Hill S. winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) on ground that would have been unsuitably soft in Goodwood's G3 Prestige S. last month.
Simon Crisford is looking at Santa Anita as a real possibility now that she has the ticket. “She did it really well, I think the fractions early on were pretty strong so all credit to her for picking up well,” he said. “I think she was slightly running on empty the last hundred yards, so that's probably as far as she wants to go trip-wise. I think the Fillies' Mile back here in two weeks might just be stretching her stamina too much, but a quick two-turn mile at the Breeders' Cup in California might be okay.”
Ed Crisford added, “There is a lot of New Approach in her and she is a big, tall, scopey filly and for sure next year she should train on. Whether she will quite stay a mile I'm not sure. We will get this year out of the way and then think about next year and see how she is training over the winter before thinking of the 1000 Guineas.”
Shuwari's trainer Ollie Sangster has no stamina concerns for the runner-up, who lost nothing in surrendering her unbeaten record racing against the bias against a top-drawer opponent. “I was very happy and she ran great,” he said. “I suppose the way the race panned out, she had a lot to do but she stayed on well. We will see how the next week goes, but we could think about coming back for the [Oct. 13] Fillies' Mile. She had been off for 64 days and she will come on again, so will definitely think about that.”
Pedigree Notes
Carla's Way, who at £350,000 was the second-highest-priced filly at the Goffs UK 2yo Breeze Up Sale, is the third of three current foals out of Sulaalaat who sported the Shadwell silks and was at her best over this trip. Registering a career-best in a handicap at the same Doncaster venue at which her daughter starred on debut, she is a full-sister to the dam of another member of the 2023 juvenile class who has produced something out of the ordinary in the Ripon debut winner but subsequently disappointing Listed Rose Bowl S.-placed Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).
The third dam Sumoto (GB) (Mtoto {GB}) was responsible for the G1 Eclipse S. hero Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer), the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Twyla Tharp (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) who in turn produced the G1 Irish Champion S., G1 Prince of Wales's S., G1 Nassau S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}). This is also the family of the high-class G1 July Cup and G1 Prix de la Foret winner Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}).
Taking performance
Carla's Way lands the G2 @ABE_Dubai Rockfel Stakes for @the_doyler & @gainsboroughHQ pic.twitter.com/mJvISIeRYX
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) September 29, 2023
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI ROCKFEL S.-G2, £107,000, Newmarket, 9-29, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:23.01, g/f.
1–CARLA'S WAY (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Sulaalaat (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Danehill Dreamer, by Danehill
3rd Dam: Sumoto (GB), by Mtoto (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£350,000 2yo '23 GOUKB). O-Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa; B-Grove Stud & David Spratt (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-James Doyle. £60,680. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $100,265. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shuwari (Ire), 128, f, 2, New Bay (GB)–Lady Pimpernel (GB), by Sir Percy (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (80,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs B V Sangster & Ballylinch Partnership; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Ollie Sangster. £23,005.
3–Ylang Ylang (GB), 128, f, 2, Frankel (GB)–Shambolic (Ire), by Shamardal. (1,500,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith,Brant & Westerberg; B-Newsells Park Stud & Merry Fox Stud (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £11,513.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 1.63, 2.50.
Also Ran: Spiritual (Ire), Zenjabeela (GB), Carolina Reaper (GB). Scratched: Alshinfarah (Ire), Marcella (Ger).
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