By Tom Frary
Colin Keane came to Goodwood for the first time on Wednesday and his debut ride was one of a rider who had been here many times before as he guided Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) to success in the G3 Markel Insurance Molecomb S. Held up in rear off the pace burn-up in front, Michael O'Callaghan's July 22 Naas maiden scorer was still sitting chilly at the back passing two out but when the gap was big enough he was through with relish to seize the advantage 100 yards from the line. Despite the stern challenge of Ben Macdui (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the 2-1 favourite asserted to score by 3/4 of a length, with Internationaldream (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “When you are on a horse like this, they make it easy for you–he travelled very well and when I gave him a squeeze he picked up nicely,” Keane said. “He had won in a hack canter in his maiden and he's a progressive horse.”
Bought by his trainer at the Goffs UK & Arqana Breeze-Up from Andrew Lynch for just £28,000, Steel Bull is yet another advert for the strength of the Irish juvenile scene having upstaged the experienced yardstick Dense Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) over five furlongs at Naas. Always travelling strongly in this contest behind a wall of rivals, the grey was push-button when the command was given and was well on top at the line to suggest he can go forward from this effort. “He's done it very well and Colin was top-class–as good as ever,” O'Callaghan commented. “We had a little interest in him after winning his maiden, but at the end of the day he had to go and prove he could do something like this. He's also owned by father and John Fleming and we've been lucky at the breeze-ups. We've found another one.”
Steel Bull is the second of two foals produced by Macarthurs Park (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}), a half-sister to the Listed Curragh S. winner Three Sea Captains (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) and to the dam of the G3 Anglesey S. runner-up Lil Grey (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). The third dam is the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Lavinia Fontana (Ire) (Sharpo {GB}).
Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
MARKEL INSURANCE MOLECOMB S.-G3, £40,000, Goodwood, 7-29, 2yo, 5fT, :58.59, gd.
1–STEEL BULL (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Clodovil (Ire)
1st Dam: Macarthurs Park (Ire), by Equiano (Fr)
2nd Dam: La Tintoretta (Ire), by Desert Prince (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lavinia Fontana (Ire), by Sharpo (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€5,000 Wlg '18 TATFBR; £15,000 Ylg '19 TASAYG; £28,000 2yo '20 GOFARQ). O/T-Michael O'Callaghan; B-Macarthurs Park Partnership (IRE); J-Colin Keane. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $45,938. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ben Macdui (Ire), 127, g, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Candiland (Ire), by Shamardal. (55,000gns Ylg '19 TADEYG). O-K&J Bloodstock Ltd; B-JC Bloodstock (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £8,600.
3–Internationaldream (Ire), 127, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Komedy (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (€38,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV; €60,000 Ylg '19 TIRSEP). O-P D Smith Holdings Ltd; B-M & S Hanly (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £4,304.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NO. Odds: 2.00, 16.00, 50.00.
Also Ran: Chief Little Hawk, Significantly (GB), Sardinia Sunset (Ire), Wings of a Dove (Ire), Deliver the Dream, Night On Earth (Ire), Army of India (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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