By Sean Cronin
Fresh from an impressive tally in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., Coolmore's Battleground (War Front) emulated last year's winner of that contest–Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal)–by doubling up in Tuesday's G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. at Goodwood. Employing patient tactics trapped three wide in sixth after a level break in the seven-furlong contest, the 13-8 favourite made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge at the quarter-mile marker and he was driven out once seizing control soon after to deny G2 Superlative S. runner-up Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) by two lengths. Newmarket maiden winner Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) ran on well from the rear to finish 1 1/4 lengths further adrift in third. “He travelled very easily through the race, he picked up Devious Company quite quickly and was just doing enough in front,” explained winning rider Ryan Moore. “He's a beautiful horse, he has plenty of speed and we'll see how he develops.”
The May-foaled bay had opened up with a maiden fifth over six furlongs in his June 8 debut at Naas and jumped to the head of all ante-post lists as favourite for next year's G1 2000 Guineas in the aftermath of this latest victory. His short-term target is back on home soil in The Curragh's Sept. 13 G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., with trainer Aidan O'Brien explaining, “This was his first run after [Royal] Ascot, we were very happy with him at home and we thought it was a lovely race for him to get experience from. The ground was lovely and safe and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him. We think his next run will be the National S., everything being well, but he is a horse we have always loved. He is a big, powerful horse and very genuine, and that's the way his dam was as well. We think he will be a miler. He is a strong traveller, but he is by War Front, and being out of Found we thought he might get a mile and that is what we would be hoping for. Obviously all the 2-year-olds got a little bit messed up, with the start of the season not being there, and then we had to rush some of them to get them to Ascot. A lot of stuff wasn't ideal, but he was lovely. It is very early for horses. Some will improve, some will stand still and some will go back, but we are delighted with this horse.”
Battleground is the first and only foal to date produced by G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, GI Breeders' Cup Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was bred to Justify last year. Found is a daughter of G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Matron S. victress Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab), herself out of stakes-winning G3 Prix du Calvados third Malefemmena (Ire) (Nordico), and thus a full-sister to G3 C L Weld Parks S. winner Magical Dream (Ire) and G3 Give Thanks S. winner Best in the World (Ire). His G3 Athasi S.-winning fourth dam Martinova (Ire) (Martinmas {GB}) ran third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and produced MGSW sire Export Price (Fr) (Habitat).
Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
VEUVE CLICQUOT VINTAGE S.-G2, £50,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 2yo, 7fT, 1:28.80, gd.
1–BATTLEGROUND, 127, c, 2, by War Front
1st Dam: Found (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Fr at 9.5-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Fr, GISW-US, MGSW & MG1SP-Ire, MG1SP-Eng, $7,610,405), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Deriick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $66,599. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Devious Company (Ire), 127, c, 2, Fast Company (Ire)–Seren Devious (GB), by Dr Devious (Ire). (£45,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Russell Jones; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Dascombe. £10,750.
3–Youth Spirit (Ire), 127, c, 2, Camelot%20(GB)#tot">Camelot (GB)–Rocana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (€60,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV; €100,000 RNA Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Ringfort Stud & Paul Hancock (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £5,380.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.63, 4.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Gorytus (Ire), Fountain Cross (GB), Dark Lion (Ire), Kraken Power (Ire), King Zain (Ire), Painless Potter (Ire), Thunder of Niagara (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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