By Tom Frary
Benefitting from the ideal pace set-up in Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's G2 Railway Stakes winner Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) swooped to defy a penalty and continue his perfect record under Ryan Moore.
Settled in third early with the pace generously provided by Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the 5-6 favourite surged by the G3 Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) a furlong out en route to a length success. The Joseph O'Brien-trained Leopardstown maiden scorer Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) was third.
“He's lazy and he quickens,” Aidan O'Brien said. “That is what he was doing over six and when he can do it over seven, you would be delighted really. He has that turn of foot. He swerved when he got there. He's green and is still a baby obviously. The plan is to go for the National Stakes.”
Pedigree Notes
Henri Matisse is a son of the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and therefore a half-brother to the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and the stable's unbeaten G2 Airlie Stud Stakes winner Statuette (Justify). The dam, who is connected to the three-times group 1-winning champion sire Last Tycoon (Ire), the GI Matron Stakes heroine Sense Of Style (Thunder Gulch) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest), also has a 2024 full-brother to Statuette.
Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD WOOTTON BASSETT IRISH EBF FUTURITY STAKES-G2, €138,000, Curragh, 8-24, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.11, gd.
1–HENRI MATISSE (IRE), 134, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Immortal Verse (Ire) (G1SW-Eng, G1SW-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
O-Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited; B-Immortal Verse Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €72,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $169,798. *1/2 to Tenebrism (Caravaggio), G1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, SW & G1SP-Ire, $662,772; 1/2 to Statuette (Justify), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hotazhell (GB), 131, c, 2, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Azenzar (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (70,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT; 200,000gns 2yo '24 TATBRE). O-Silverton Hill Partnership; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-Jessica Harrington. €24,000.
3–Scorthy Champ (Ire), 131, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Fidaaha (Ire), by New Approach (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (155,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Rectory Road Holdings Limited & Barry Fowler & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Healthy Wood Co Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 1, 1, 3. Odds: 0.83, 2.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: Rock Of Cashel (Ire).
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