June 13, 2020 - DONCASTER, Race 4, Alw, GBP £5,400, 7.0F, .0000
Seventh Kingdom (GB), C, 2, 2018 by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Nayarra (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ity, G1SW-Ity, MGSP-Eng & MSP-US, $268,629), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Massarra (GB), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rafha (GB), by Kris (GB)
Owner: Prince A A Faisal
Breeder: Nawara Stud Ltd (GB)
Trainer: John Gosden
It took a while for the penny to drop, but when it did Prince Faisal's homebred Seventh Kingdom (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was a class above going a shade over seven furlongs in Saturday's Betway Novice S. at Doncaster, earning a TDN Rising Star tag with a daylight triumph. He was caught napping at the break, but recovered to track the leaders in third after the initial strides. Niggled along to keep his mind on the task at hand from halfway, the well-backed 6-5 favourite swooped for control passing the quarter-mile marker and lengthened further clear of toiling rivals in the closing stages to outclass Longlai (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}) by a geared-down four lengths in taking fashion.
"He's got a very good mind, he's a very laid-back horse in general and that was a pleasing debut," said rider David Egan. "He was lucky in that they didn't go a quick pace early on because he was slowly away and quite green for the first half of the race. It took him a while to get into his stride, but once he did so in the last two furlongs he lengthened right away from the field."
Seventh Kingdom is the latest foal out of G1 Gran Criterium heroine Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), whose four winners include Listed Guisborough S. third Lahore (Elusive Quality). Descendants of his MGSP Listed Empress S.-winning second dam Massarra (GB) (Danehill) include G2 Superlative S. victor and G1 St. James's Palace S. runner-up Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Silver Flash S. victress Wonderfully (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Listed Sprint S. winner Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Massarra is a daughter of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}) and thus kin to six black-type performers headed by G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert), G3 Ormonde S. scorer Sadian (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) and G3 Hackwood S.-winning sire Kodiac (GB) (Danehill).