By Sean Cronin
Ballydoyle representative Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) finished the right side of a short-head verdict tackling six furlongs at the Curragh in May and pounced late over the same course and distance to garner a record-equalling 14th renewal of Sunday's G2 GAIN Railway Stakes for Aidan O'Brien. The victory moved O'Brien alongside legendary former Ballydoyle incumbent Vincent O'Brien on the honours board.
The Aug. 10 G1 Phoenix Stakes and Sept. 15 G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes entry was sluggish from the traps and trailed all four rivals through the initial fractions of this black-type bow. Coming under pressure to reduce arrears soon after passing halfway, the 8-1 outsider-of-five made relentless headway inside the final quarter-mile and kept on powerfully to deny British raider The Strikin Viking (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}) by a half-length nearing the line. The duo finished 3 1/4 lengths clear of the G3 Marble Hill Stakes victor and G2 Norfolk Stakes third Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), who kept on well once headed to hold Henri Matisse's stablemate Tunbridge Wells (Ire) (No Nay Never) by a head for third.
Henri Matisse has some illustrious hoofprints to follow, with the stable's roll of honour including subsequent Classic winners King Of Kings (Ire), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), George Washington (Ire) and Mastercraftsman (Ire). “We thought he was a bit too babyish to go to [Royal] Ascot and Wayne [Lordan] said he's still a bit babyish,” the winning trainer commented. “He said he'll love going up to seven [furlongs] and we might go up to seven next. We're delighted with him and we'll see what's there for the [six-furlong G1] Phoenix Stakes. It was hard to assess him after the last day as he made very hard work of winning. He's a lovely horse, he tries very hard and is very genuine. He has an unbelievable pedigree.”
Looking ahead to the possibility of emulating King Of Kings, George Washington and Mastercraftsman by doubling up in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes back here, O'Brien added, “We have was always thought highly of him, I'd say he could be [a National Stakes type] and that's exactly what I'd say he is. That was a Group 2 and if he was to go again you'd have to look at either the [G2] Futurity or [G1] Phoenix. If he was staying at six it's the Phoenix and if he's going to seven it would be the Futurity on the way to the National. We haven't leaned on the colts at all yet.”
Pedigree Notes
Henri Matisse becomes pattern-race winner number 29 for his sire and the third for Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), whose career highlights include victories in the G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Immortal Verse topped the sheets at Tattersalls' 2013 December Mares sale when knocked down for 4,700,000gns. She is the leading performer out of stakes-winning G3 Prix Fille de l'Air runner-up Side Of Paradise (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), whose descendants include stakes-winning G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes runner-up Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Side Of Paradise is a full-sister to Listed Rose Bowl Stakes winner Flowerdrum (Ire) as well as being a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning sire Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best), G3 Prix du Bois victrix The Perfect Life (Ire) (Try My Best) and dual G3 Goldene Peitsche-winning sire Astronef (Ire) (Be My Guest). Side Of Paradise is also kin to the stakes-placed dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest) and G1 Matron Stakes victrix Sense Of Style (Thunder Gulch). Black-type descendants of Henri Matisse's third dam Mill Princess (Ire) (Mill Reef) include top-level winners Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Tie Black (Ire) (Machiavellian). Immortal Verse, who has a weanling colt by Justify to come, is also the dam of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and G2 Airlie Stud Stakes victrix Statuette (Justify).
Henri Matisse gets up to beat The Strikin Viking in the GAIN Railway Stakes under an excellent ride from @waynemlordan for trainer Aidan O'Brien! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/i6yeoKJGQf
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) June 30, 2024
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GAIN RAILWAY S.-G2, €120,000, Curragh, 6-30, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.72, gd/yl.
1–HENRI MATISSE (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Immortal Verse (Ire) (G1SW-Eng & Fr, $1,053,873), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Side Of Paradise (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Mill Princess (Ire), by Mill Reef
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd; B-Immortal Verse Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $93,148. *1/2 to Tenebrism (Caravaggio), G1SW-Eng & Fr, SW & G1SP-Ire, $662,772; and Statuette (Justify), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Strikin Viking (Ire), 131, c, 2, Inns Of Court (Ire)–Asmeen (Ire), by Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (65,000gns 2yo '24 TATGBU). O-Middleham Park Racing LXXIX; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. €24,000.
3–Arizona Blaze (GB), 131, c, 2, Sergei Prokofiev–Liberisque (GB), by Equiano (Fr). (36,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; £82,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-Amo Racing Ltd & Giselle De Aguiar; B-Andrew Bengough & Partners (GB); T-Adrian Murray. €12,000.
Margins: HF, 3 1/4, HD. Odds: 8.00, 3.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Tunbridge Wells (Ire), Principality (Ire). Scratched: Red Evolution (Ire), The Parthenon (Ire).
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