8th-Belmont, $92,000, Alw, 4-30, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, f/m, 6fT, 1:09, gd, 3 lengths.
MINAUN (IRE) (f, 3, Zoffany {Ire}–Bee Eater {Ire} {SP-Eng}, by Green Desert) cost a mere €8,000 at the 2019 Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale–an event that takes place immediately after the company's premiere Orby sale–and showed a fair amount of promise on career debut, running the future GSP Oodnadatta (Ire) (Australia {GB}) to 1 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong test at Leopardstown for Henry de Bromhead last June. She was allowed to take her chance against a trio of males in the G3 Marble Hill S. at Cork in early July, led passing halfway and stayed on gamely, accounting for future G1SW Van Gogh (American Pharoah), among others, who will have his share of supporters in Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Acquired privately by these top connections and made the even-money choice on stateside unveiling, Minaun was void of early speed and settled in a share of last as Manny Franco appeared content with the way things were unfolding ahead of him. Progressing in hand on the turn, she was switched out widest into the stretch and, after hitting a flat spot for a few seconds a furlong out, put the race to bed within a matter of strides, scoring by an eased-down, three-length margin. Minaun covered her final quarter-mile in :22.42 and her last furlong in a wicked :11.20, according to Trakus data. Minaun is one of 40 stakes winners, 21 at the group/graded level for Zoffany, who passed away earlier this year from liver failure. Minaun's stakes-placed dam is a half-sister to GSP Expedition (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and to the dam of King's Harlequin (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), winner of the G3 Prix d'Aumale in 2020 and third by a head in her return to action in the G3 Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp Apr. 18. Bee Eater is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Beescatty (Ire) (El Kabeir). Sales history: €8,000 Ylg '19 GOFSPT. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 3-2-1-0, $87,287. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Iris Smith Stable LLC & Rigney Racing LLC; B-Sir E J Loder (IRE); T-Chad C Brown.
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