By Tom Frary
One of Newmarket's Spring talking horses, Oaks entry Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Waila {GB}, by Notnowcato {GB}) duly opened her account with comfort in the 10-furlong Nyetimber Maiden Fillies' S. on QIPCO Guineas Friday to become her sire's 17th TDN Rising Star. Representing the longstanding Rothschild-Sir Michael Stoute connection, the relative of Sea The Stars' high-class Crystal Ocean (GB) had been second to the subsequent G3 Prix Penelope runner-up Sea Of Roses (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in a Doncaster maiden in October and started as the 8-11 favourite with Ryan Moore engaged to give connections the lowdown.
Racing prominently, the homebred had the measure of long-time leader Therapist (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) passing two out and found her feet on the climb to the line to score by 4 1/4 lengths from Strong Impact (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who denied Therapist by a neck. Stoute was keeping a lid on things, despite some bookmakers promoting her to favourite for the Epsom Classic. “I didn't think she was impressive there, only workmanlike, but she is still learning on the job,” he said. “We'll run her in a trial and make a decision after that, but I don't think she's going to be sparkly at this stage of her career–she needs to grow up and is taking time to learn. She may be impervious to ground conditions.”
Infinite Cosmos has some big shoes to fill, with her sire's impressive TDN Rising Star haul including Crystal Ocean himself, as well as the star fillies Emily Upjohn (GB) and Star Catcher (GB) and the G1 Deutsches Derby-winning sire Sea The Moon (Ger). She is the fourth foal out of Waila, who was also under Ryan Moore when recording a career-best 10-length success in the 12-furlong Listed Aphrodite S. on the July Course here 10 years ago and who was third in the G3 Lillie Langtry S.
Waila, who was sold to BBA Ireland for 550,000gns at the most recent Tatts December Sale, also has a yearling full-sister to the winner who was also purchased at that auction for 400,000gns by McKeever Bloodstock for Ballyhimikin as part of Southcourt Stud's partial dispersal. She is a daughter of Crystal Cavern (Be My Guest), a half to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert) whose daughter Crystal Star (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) captured the Listed Radley S. and was second in the G3 Fred Darling S.
Before her death in 2015, Crystal Star proved a rich font of successful runners for Southcourt Stud, producing four black-type performers beginning with Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who captured two renewals of the G2 Pride S. as well as the G2 Princess Of Wales's S. and G3 Middleton S. Her next big-time personality was the GI Canadian International and G2 King Edward VII S. scorer Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), before Crystal Ocean arrived on the scene with wins in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. and G2 Hardwicke S. and five other group races and five second placings at the highest level including two in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S.
7th-Newmarket, £15,000, Mdn, 5-5, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:07.29, gd.
INFINITE COSMOS (IRE), f, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Waila (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Notnowcato (GB)
2nd Dam: Crystal Cavern, by Be My Guest
3rd Dam: Krisalya (GB), by Kris (GB)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $12,121. O-Exors of the late Sir E D Rothschild; B-South Court Stud (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
☑️ Off the mark
Oaks entrant Infinite Cosmos (Sea The Stars) sheds the maiden tag at the second time of asking with a ready victory at @NewmarketRace for Ryan Moore & Sir Michael Stoute pic.twitter.com/kvXghBwIxO
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2023
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