By Tom Frary
Meydan's G1 Dubai Turf calls again for the now-veteran Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's pride and joy marked his 2023 debut with a comfortable success in Saturday's G3 BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield. Reported by jockey Robert Havlin to be further ahead than 12 months ago when he came up against the formidable presence of Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in this, the 8-11 favourite travelled with gusto anchored behind the early leaders. Taking time to wind up approaching the home straight, the Gosdens' flagbearer overpowered Tyrrhenian Sea (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 150 yards out en route to an authoritative 3 1/4-length success.
Havlin said of the winner, who along with his 2021 Dubai Turf and 2022 dead-heat in the same race also boasts the 2020 G1 Prince of Wales's S. on his resume, “That was like clockwork. His work has been a lot brighter and I think that was a better performance than last year, even though today did not have the depth of last year's race. He was a bit laboured through the final furlong and a half here last year, whereas today I was always confident he was going to pick up. He is better on galloping tracks, coming off a strong pace, but his class shone through. He has been showing us a bit of that at home–it was as if he was back to being a four or five-year-old. Hopefully he can get back on song and win the Dubai Turf outright this year.”
Pedigree Notes
Lord North's pedigree is a decorated one, with his dam Najoum (Giant's Causeway) being a granddaughter of the GI Santa Anita Oaks heroine Hail Atlantis (Seattle Slew). Responsible for the sires Stormy Atlantic and Mr. Katowice, her stakes-placed daughter Divine Dixie (Dixieland Band) produced the GI Blue Grass S.-winning sire Bandini and is the second dam of the GI Ashland S. scorer Out For A Spin (Hard Spun). Also related to the GI Summer S. winner Decorated Invader (Declaration Of War) and that sire's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Fire At Will, Najoum has a 2-year-old filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) and a yearling full-brother to Lord North.
Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
BETUK WINTER DERBY S.-G3, £100,000, Lingfield, 2-25, 4yo/up, 10f (AWT), 2:02.32, st.
1–LORD NORTH (IRE), 128, g, 7, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Najoum, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Divine Dixie, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew
O-HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Robert Havlin. £56,710. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-UAE, G1SW-Eng, 19-9-3-1, $5,154,571. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tyrrhenian Sea (Ire), 128, g, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nocturne (Ger), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £21,500.
3–Foxes Tales (Ire), 128, g, 5, Zoffany (Ire)–Starfish (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (400,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Manister House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £10,760.
Margins: 3 1/4, HD, 2. Odds: 0.73, 4.50, 11.00.
Also Ran: Harrovian (GB), Lucander (Ire), Forest Of Dean (GB), King Of The South (Ire), Pistoletto.
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