By Tom Frary
Dabyah accounted for the useful Amabilis (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Dubara (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on debut over this trip at Newmarket in July before coming here in September to win by nine lengths in the conditions race taken by the same connections's Nathra (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) 12 months earlier. Going on to the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly the following month, the bay was third and on the premises where it mattered behind Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) after being ridden on the pace throughout. Steered here to make way for her stablemate Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in Wednesday's G3 Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket, she was again admirably straightforward making all under Frankie Dettori to complicate 1000 Guineas plans for her owner and trainer. Keeping allcomers at bay under hand riding, she was able to account for the G1 Fillies' Mile third Urban Fox and a clutch of solid performers with some comfort.
Inevitably, Gosden was invited to draw comparison between the two Naboodah fillies and he said, “The other filly [Daban] is more laid-back and very relaxed and likes to come with a late run, whereas this one is out of the gate and racing. I thought she pricked her ears, which is a good sign and shows she is relaxed in front and she finished out well. We will look at either the French or English Guineas for sure and she and Daban will go for one each. I will talk to her owner and see where we go, but they are two lovely fillies. She will come on for the race, as she actually missed a couple of bits of work. The jockey would like to run Daban at Newmarket and Dabyah in France. She has run well in France before and they get more rain there, so there is likely to be a bit more give. He felt the other filly handled the dip [at Newmarket] well.”
Trainer James Tate said of Urban Fox, “She had a setback six weeks ago with a foot problem. She has not done much work and this has been used as a trial, so we are delighted. She will improve for the step up to a mile and we will get her ready for the Guineas. I didn't expect her to finish as well as that, given all the work she missed.” Promising's trainer Richard Hannon is looking at the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Deauville May 14 for the strong-travelling maiden. “She is a lovely filly and there are a lot of positives to take out of it,” he said. “I am favouring France, as there is likely to be more cut in the ground there. I am not sure she really let herself down on that ground today. She will win a nice race and the flat track at Deauville will suit her.”
Dabyah shares her second dam, the G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille place-getter Cloud Castle, with one of last year's success stories in Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}). After placing in the G1 Nassau S., G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S., that Cheveley Park Stud representative went on to conquer the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and add further gravitas to a formidable family of middle-distance performers renowned for their longevity. Chief among them is Warrsan (Ire) (Caerleon), a dual winner of the G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, while his half-brothers Luso (GB) and Needle Gun (Ire) were also able to hold their own at the top level. Cloud Castle's other notable progeny include Queen's Trust's group-winning dam Queen's Best (GB) (King's Best) and the listed-winning Reverie Solitaire (Ire) (Nashwan), dam of the G2 Badener Meile winner Royal Solitaire (Ire) (Shamardal). In a show of versatility, the dynasty also features last year's classy sprinting 2-year-old Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Nichols Canyon (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), winner of this year's Stayers' Hurdle over three miles at the Cheltenham Festival. Samdaniya has a 2-year-old colt by Iffraaj (GB) named Sam Gold (Ire) and a yearling filly by Dawn Approach (Ire).
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE S. (FRED DARLING S.)-G3, £60,000, NBY, 4-22, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.54, g/f.
1–#@DABYAH (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Sepoy (Aus)
1st Dam: Samdaniya (GB), by Machiavellian
2nd Dam: Cloud Castle (GB), by In the Wings (GB)
3rd Dam: Lucayan Princess (Ire), by High Line (GB)
(100,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT). O-Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £34,026. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 4-3-0-1, $103,700. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Urban Fox (GB), 126, f, 3, Foxwedge (Aus)–Lomapamar (GB), by Nashwan. (10,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT). O-Saeed Manana; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-James Tate. £12,900.
3–Promising (Ire), 126, f, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Lethal Quality, by Elusive Quality. (€350,000 Ylg '15 GOFORB). O-Denford Stud; B-Irish National Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £6,456.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 1.50, 25.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Rain Goddess (Ire), Queen Kindly (GB), Mystic Dawn (Ire), Glitter Girl (GB), Arwa (Ire), Think Fashion (Ire), Pichola Dance (Ire), Poet's Princess (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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