Magical Memory Back In Form
The Karl Burke-trained Unfortunately (2 c Society Rock – Unfortunate by Komaite) survived a stewards’ enquiry to cause an upset in the Prix Robert Papin (Gr 2, 1100m) at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday.
The colt, who had finished a close second in the Prix La Fleche (Listed, 1000m) at the same track in June, was ridden just in behind the pace-setting Frozen Angel (Dark Angel) by jockey Tony Piccone.
He was produced to lead approaching the final 200 metres but immediately began to drift across to the stands rail, causing the the eventual fourth High Dream Milena (Dabirsim) to be briefly snatched up by Pierre-Charles Boudot.
He found plenty for pressure close home to beat Frozen Angel by half a length, with the favourite and Queen Mary Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) winner Heartache (Kyllachy) just a short-head further behind in third.
The result also provided the late Society Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar) with his first stakes winner. The dual Group One winner died of laminitis at the age of nine last year.
At Newbury on Friday, Madeline (2 f Kodiac – Madhulika by Marchand De Sable) gave the form of the Albany Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) a further boost when running out a decisive winner of the Rose Bowl Stakes (Listed, 6f).
The Roger Varian-trained filly ran fifth in the Group Three at Royal Ascot at her previous start, a race which has subsequently produced the likes of Group Two winner Clemmie (Galileo) and Group Three winner Actress (Declaration Of War).
Madeline was asked to make ground from off the pace approaching the final two furlongs by Silvestre De Sousa, and she picked up in taking style to beat fellow Kodiac (Danehill) filly and Albany Stakes 14th Natural by two and a quarter lengths, with Another Batt (Windsor Knot) a further two and three quarter lengths adrift in third place.
The following day, Bengali Boys (2 c Clodovil – Caherassdotcom by Compton Place) ran out a wide-margin winner of the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint (5f) at Newbury, giving trainer Richard Fahey a third win in the £250,000 two-year-old sales race since 2013.
The colt, who was purchased for just €11,000 as a yearling, quickened to lead just over a furlong out and stretched clear for an impressive six length victory over Declarationoflove (Declaration Of War), with Maggies Angel (Dark Angel) a further neck behind in third.
Three-Year-Olds
The progressive God Given (3 f ex Ever Rigg by Dubai Destination) stayed on strongly to win the Aphrodite Stakes (Listed, 1m4f) at Newmarket on Saturday, continuing Newsells Park Stud-based sire Nathaniel’s (Galileo) fine season.
The Luca Cumani-trained filly, who is a half-sister to multiple Group One winner and soon-to-be Darley stallion Postponed (Dubawi), was produced to lead around two furlongs out by George Wood in a strongly run race.
She briefly looked vulnerable as the lightly raced Isabel De Urbina (Lope De Vega) delivered her challenge inside the final furlong, but the filly found extra under pressure to score by a length, with More Mischief (Azamour) a further two lengths behind in third place.
Nathaniel’s progeny are headed by dual Group One winner Enable, who will bid to become just the second three-year-old filly since 1976 to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m4f) at Ascot this weekend.
The Roger Varian-trained Defoe (3 c Dalakhani – Dulkashe by Pivotal) entered Classic contention when staying on strongly to win the Glasgow Stakes (Listed, 1m3f) at Hamilton on Friday evening.
The progressive colt came under pressure around three furlongs from home but found plenty for jockey Harry Bentley’s urgings, running down Frankuus (Frankel) close home to win by a length and a half with Call To Mind (Galileo) a further length and a quarter behind in third.
Defoe could now follow the same path as former multiple Group One-winning stablemate Postponed, who won the Glasgow Stakes en route to victory in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr 1, 1m4f) at York in 2014. His performance in that race could determine if he then heads to the St Leger Stakes (Gr 1, 1m6.5f) at Doncaster in September.
In France, the Andre Fabre-trained Esquisse (3 f Dansili – Legerete by Rahy) ran out an impressive winner of the Prix de Bagatelle (Listed, 1600m) at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday.
The three-year-old filly came into the race having broken her maiden over 1600 metres at Chantilly on 23 June, and she showed a smart turn of foot under Maxime Guyon to beat Ettisaal (Dubawi) by a length and three quarters, with another half a length back to Limited Edition (Kendargent) in third.
Older Horses
The Charles Hills-trained Magical Memory (5 g Zebedee – Marasem by Cadeaux Genereux) rediscovered something like his best form to win the Hackwood Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) in testing conditions at Newbury on Saturday.
The five-year-old, who won the Duke Of York Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) in May 2016, was made to work hard for victory at Haydock in a conditions race at his previous start on 8 July having finished well beaten in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot.
He appeared to relish the rain-softened ground under Frankie Dettori, though, travelling strongly into contention as Gifted Master (Kodiac) set strong fractions on the front end.
Magical Memory moved into the lead a furlong out and ran on well to beat Perfect Angel (Dark Angel) by a length and a quarter, with Lady Macapa (Equiano) a further length and three quarters behind in third place.
At the same meeting, What About Carlo (6 g ex Boccatenera by Artan) ran out a comfortable winner of the Steventon Stakes (Listed, 1m2f) to provide his sire Creachadoir (King’s Best) with his first stakes winner.
The six-year-old raced on the shoulder of the leader in a steadily run affair, and he galloped on strongly in the straight to beat Arthenus (Dutch Art) by two and three quarter lengths, with Best Of Days (Azamour) a further four and a half lengths behind in third.
Former Godolphin-owned runner Creachadoir enjoyed his finest moment when winning the Lockinge Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Newbury in 2008.
The well-bred Moonlight Magic (4 c Cape Cross – Melikah by Lammtarra) led close home to win the Meld Stakes (Gr 3, 1m1f) at Leopardstown last Thursday, his second victory at Group Three level.
The Jim Bolger-trained and Godolphin-raced colt showed a good attitude in the closing stages to wear down the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite Deauville (Galileo) by a head, with Tennessee Wildcat (Kheleyf) a further four and a half lengths adrift in third.
Moonlight Magic is one of 11 named foals out of a stakes-winning half-sister to four Group One winners, including champion sire Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and leading sire Sea The Stars (Cape Cross), making him a half-brother to the Group Two winner Masterstroke (Monsun).