By Sean Cronin
Joseph O'Brien trainee Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Simannka {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) followed up a June 29 debut sixth at the Curragh with a breakthrough score at Killarney last month and continued on the upgrade with a career high in Saturday's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville.
Breaking well to assert for an early lead, the 2-1 favourite was comfortable on the front end until coming under pressure in the straight and kept on strongly under continued rousting inside the final 300 metres to withstand the late threat of Rose Salvaje (Ire) (Maximum Security) by 3/4-of-a-length in game fashion.
“He's a nice colt, he's stepping forward from race to race and this was another step forward from his maiden win last time,” said O'Brien. “It was a strong maiden [at Killarney], he's tough and Dylan [Brown McMonagle] said he kept finding all the way to the line. He looks a nice colt for the future and will probably now go for the Goffs Million.”
Apples And Bananas, who becomes the 46h stakes winner for his sire, is the second of three foals and lone scorer produced by Listed Lenebane Stakes third Simannka (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), herself out of a winning half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning sire Sinndar (Ire) (Grand Lodge). The May-foaled bay, whose third dam is stakes-winning matriarch Sinntara (Ire) (Lashkari {GB}), is full to a yearling colt.
Double landed! Apples And Bananas makes all at @fgdeauville for @JosephOBrien2 and @DylanBrowneMcM… pic.twitter.com/5WBcSpnbve
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 17, 2024
Saturday, Deauville, France
CRITERIUM DU FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE-Listed, €130,000, Deauville, 8-17, 2yo, 8fT, 1:46.68, sf.
1–APPLES AND BANANAS (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Simannka (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
2nd Dam: Simkana (Ire), by Kalanisi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Sinntara (Ire), by Lashkari (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€130,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-MacLennan, Shanahan & Magnier; B-Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Brown McMonagle. €65,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €76,200.
2–Rosa Salvaje (Ire), 122, f, 2, Maximum Security–Idle Hour, by Malibu Moon. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€75,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Francky Defosse, EARL Haras de l'Hotellerie, SNIG Elevage, Frederic Sauque & Christopher Head; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (IRE); T-Christopher Head. €26,000.
3–Lazy Griff (Ger), 126, c, 2, Protectionist (Ger)–Linarda (Den), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€75,000 Ylg '23 BBAGS). O-Middleham Park Racing & G Griffiths; B-Gestut Westerberg (GER); T-Charlie Johnston. €19,500.
Margins: 3/4, 3HF, NO. Odds: 2.00, 2.20, 18.00.
Also Ran: Silius (Ire), Cap Saint Martin (Fr), Aloysius (Fr).
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