By Adam Houghton
There's no City Of Troy but Aidan O'Brien still saddles half of the eight-strong field as he seeks a remarkable sixteenth victory in the premier Irish Classic. Los Angeles looks the pick of the Ballydoyle contingent, having finished third behind his feted stable-mate in the Derby, but the son of Camelot has work to do to reverse the Epsom form with runner-up Ambiente Friendly. James Fanshawe's British raider is set to be a warm order to continue a red-hot run of form for Coolmore's own Gleneagles, the sire of another emerging force over middle-distances in the shape of last week's impressive King Edward VII Stakes hero Calandagan.
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY (IRE)
Gleneagles (Ire)–Roxity (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})
Sales info: Bred by Al Shira'aa Farms SARL, he was bought back as a yearling when failing to find a buyer at 25,000gns. Reoffered at the Craven Breeze-up Sale, he was selected by Freddy Tylicki for the Gredley family at 80,000gns.
Pedigree/form notes: This colt sets the form standard having made significant progress on his last two starts, first winning the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes by four and a half lengths and then faring best of the rest behind City Of Troy (Justify) in the G1 Derby at Epsom. He is the third foal and first to race for his dam, who won her sole career start in France. Granddam Masseera (Ire) (Alzao) managed two wins in the French provinces for Sheikh Mohammed and is a half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Wannabe Grand (Ire) (Danehill) and Group 3 scorer Wannabe Better (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}).
EUPHORIC (GB)
Frankel (GB)–Blue Waltz (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Sales info: Offered by Fittocks Stud–who co-bred the colt with Arrow Farm and Stud–at Tattersalls October Book 1, he sold to M. V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1.9 million gns.
Pedigree/form notes: Runner-up to Los Angeles in the G3 Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, he shouldn't be judged too harshly on his ninth-place finish in the Derby at Epsom last time, having been used as a pacemaker for his better-fancied stable-mates. He is one of two winners from four runners out of a multiple-winning half-sister to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Fillies' Mile and GI Just A Game Stakes placegetter Fantasia (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and the G3 Give Thanks Stakes victrix Pink Symphony (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). The latter is the dam of the GI Man O' War Stakes hero Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
GROSVENOR SQUARE (IRE)
Galileo (Ire)–Wadyhatta (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: Beaten just once in three starts as a juvenile, when his wins included the G3 Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown, he shaped as if the run would bring him on after seven months off when finishing third in the G3 Chester Vase Stakes. This Coolmore homebred is the fourth winner from as many runners out of his winning dam, a half-sister to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) and the multiple Listed-placed dam of the G3 Prix de Cabourg, G3 Prix de Meautry and G3 Prix du Petit Couvert hero Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). His siblings include two other black-type performers, namely the 2020 winner of this race, Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire})–who also won the G2 Queen's Vase and was third in the G1 Goodwood Cup–and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille third La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
KEEPER'S HEART (IRE)
Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Sonning Rose (Ire) (Hawk Wing)
Sales info: Bred by Mrs Eleanor Commins of Albany Stud, he sold to Gaelic Bloodstock for €110,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale.
Pedigree/form notes: This colt steps up to the top level for the first time having acquitted himself well on his last two starts at Leopardstown, finishing fourth in the Derby Trial Stakes and third in the Listed King George V Cup. He is the fourth winner from five runners out of the Listed Chesham Stakes runner-up Sonning Rose, with the others including the G3 Weld Park Stakes scorer Elysium (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}). The dam is a half-sister to three other black-type performers, headed by the G3 Premio Carlo Chiesa runner-up Universo Star (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}).
LOS ANGELES (IRE)
Camelot (GB)–Frequential (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Pedigree/form notes: A Group 1 winner at two when landing the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, he returned this year with victory in the Derby Trial Stakes and then ran another solid race, despite forfeiting his unbeaten record, when finishing third in the Derby at Epsom. Bred by Lynch Bages Ltd and Longfield Stud, he is one of three winners from as many runners out of an unraced half-sister to the G3 Prix Messidor victor Impulsif (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). He is a full-brother to the G3 Ballyroan Stakes third Hector De Maris (Ire) and the G3 Prix Penelope third Be Happy (Ire), while his third dam, G3 Prix de Flore victrix Allez Les Trois (Riverman), produced G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa) and is a half-sister to storied blue hen Urban Sea (Miswaki).
MATSURI (GB)
Sea The Stars (Ire)–Along Came Casey (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire})
Sales info: Bred by Highview Bloodstock Ltd, he sold to trainer Roger Varian for 700,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 2.
Pedigree/form notes: This colt is only three starts into his career, identifying him as the least-experienced of the eight runners, but he showed top-class potential last time when winning a Leicester novice by eight lengths. He is a half-brother to the G3 Darley Stakes heroine Feliciana De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and one of five winners altogether out of his smart dam, who won the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes and Listed Glencairn Stakes and was placed in the G3 Brownstown Stakes, G3 Diamond Stakes and G3 Meld Stakes. She is also a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Hallie's Comet (Ire) (One Cool Cat), who in turn produced the G2 Challenge Stakes and G3 Sceptre Stakes winner Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation).
SUNWAY (FR)
Galiway (GB)–Kensea (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr})
Sales info: He was retained at €300,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale by his breeder Guy Pariente.
Pedigree/form notes: Last year's G1 Criterium International winner is yet to add to his tally in three starts this season, but the step up to a mile and a half should suit if his staying-on seventh in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly is anything to go by. He is the fourth winner from as many runners out of his Listed-winning dam, whose previous matings with Galiway also produced the G1 Champion Stakes and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Sealiway (Fr). The fourth dam was a half-sister to the G2 Prix de Malleret scorer Another Dancer (Fr) (Groom Dancer) and produced a pair of black-type performers by Exit To Nowhere.
THE EUPHRATES (GB)
Frankel (GB)–Auld Alliance (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire})
Sales info: Bred by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds, he was bought by M. V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for 800,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1.
Pedigree/form notes: This colt faces a quick turnaround after his fifth-place finish in last week's G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, having previously proved no match for Ambiente Friendly when finishing fourth in the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes. He is the third winner from four runners out of his stakes-placed dam, a half-sister to the G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes hero Golan (Ire) and G1 Derby runner-up Tartan Bearer (Ire), both by Spectrum (Ire). This is also the family of the Derby hero North Light (Ire) (Danehill).
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