By Tom Frary
Few who bore witness to Beat the Bank's debut success for the Darren Bunyan stable over seven furlongs on Dundalk's Polytrack Feb. 24 would have expected he would be one of Europe's leading milers by the end of the season, but this impressive display put him right up there. Switched to Andrew Balding soon after, the bay followed up in a conditions event on good-to-firm ground over that trip Apr. 18 before finishing 10th in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 21. While he was up against it there on form, his trainer was nevertheless disappointed with the outcome but was convinced he under-performed and it was confirmed that he had come back with a dirty scope. Bouncing back with a three-length win on his first try over this trip in the July 13 Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. on the July Course here, he scored by the same margin and underlined his versatility in the G3 Thoroughbred S. on soft ground at Glorious Goodwood Aug. 4.
Heavily-supported here, the free-going Beat the Bank followed the searching pace set by the runaway Whitecliffsofdover (War Front) and was asked to extend by Oisin Murphy passing three out. Quickly taking control, he surged clear for a ruthless dismissal of Ballydoyle's highly-regarded Sir John Lavery to suggest he will be a force to be reckoned with if he is targeted at the Oct. 21 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot. “He's very talented–Sandeep [Gauravaram], who used to look after Frankel has him, and while he's not another Frankel he's a very good horse,” his rider said. “This horse is very lightly-raced and was tuned for today. I followed the Ballydoyle pacemaker and it happened a bit too easy, which meant he had a look around in front, but he was entitled to.”
Balding was keen to wait on the decision regarding Champions Day and said, “He was very impressive, he did it very nicely but I'd have been disappointed if he got beaten as he's been working like a very good horse. He looks just the ticket to be a top miler next year and I'm not sure about the QEII yet, as we've very much got next year in mind. If he did run again that would be the only option, but I'll talk to the owners. I haven't had many proper horses, but he could be one. He's very exciting. I thought he was very impressive at Goodwood as well, but you can only beat what you are up against and he did it in good style. I think Oisin is adamant he's better on better ground as he said he didn't quite get the feel he did in the Craven meeting. I think the owner is keen to go to Hong Kong at some stage at the end of next year, as I think this year it will be too soon.”
Beat the Bank's dam Tiana was third here in the Listed Oh So Sharp S. before producing the listed-placed sprinter Salt Island (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and she has a yearling filly to come by that sire. Her half-sister is the G3 Molecomb S. runner-up Mary Read (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), who is the second dam of the G3 Molecomb S. winner and G1 Commonwealth Cup runner-up Kachy (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}). The dam, who also has a filly foal by Showcasing (GB), is connected to the G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Stalker (GB), the GII Palos Verdes H.-winning sire Friendly Island and this year's Listed Prix la Fleche winner and G3 Prix du Bois third Ardenode (Ire) (Hellvelyn {GB}).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
SHADWELL JOEL S.-G2, £100,000, NEW, 9-29, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:38.67, g/s.
1–BEAT THE BANK (GB), 126, g, 3, by Paco Boy (Ire)
1st Dam: Tiana (GB) (SP-Eng), by Diktat (GB)
2nd Dam: Hill Welcome (GB), by Most Welcome (GB)
3rd Dam: Tarvie, by Swing Easy
(18,000gns RNA Wlg '14 TATFOA; 30,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-A S Denniff (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-0, $198,495. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sir John Lavery (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Race for the Stars, by Fusaichi Pegasus. O-Susan Magnier; B-Lorgnette Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,500.
3–Jallota (GB), 130, g, 6, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)–Lady Lahar (GB), by Fraam (GB). (100,000gns Ylg '12 TAOCT; 150,000gns 2yo '13 TA13). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Barry Walters (GB); T-Charles Hills. £10,760.
Margins: 5, 2 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.35, 3.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Sovereign Debt (Ire), Custom Cut (Ire), Whisky Baron (Aus), Whitecliffsofdover, Mustashry (GB). Scratched: Zonderland (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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