Invincible Spirit Colt Takes the Gimcrack

Capping a week to remember for Yorkshire-born trainer William Haggas, Ajaya who was second to Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Robert Papin last time July 26 took a leap forward to capture this prestigious prize with something to spare. That latest effort in Maisons-Laffitte’s important 5 1/2-furlong staging post was his fourth start, having run second at Nottingham May 31 before finishing a highly creditable three-lengths seventh in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot June 18 and winning his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths over an extended five furlongs here July 10. Settled in third early as Finnegan (Ire) (Unbridled’s Song) proved a predictable leader setting a genuine pace, the bay who started as the second choice in the absence of Buratino (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was cajoled to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining by Graham Gibbons. Kept up to his work as the eye-catching closer Ribchester whittled down his advantage, he was able to comfortably hold that rival at bay as the Haggas stable’s Raucous completed the exacta. “He was doing a half-speed coming down to the two and I thought it would take a good one to beat me from there,” his rider said. “We went an even solid gallop all the way, not stupid quick, and I was able to just fill him up for the first half. He showed some turn of foot and even though he is small he has a very big action and skipped across the ground and galloped right to the line.” Haggas has a Group 1 date in mind for the winner now. “I have to pinch myself, as it’s been a great week,” he said. “Ajaya has changed physically completely–in March I was all for sending him home thinking he needed six weeks off–and he’s done nothing but improve. The rain scuppered his chance in France–it started raining two hours before and it was all over for us. I think we’ll go for the G1 Middle Park S. [at Newmarket Sept. 26] now and take it from there. Raucous is developing really well. He was a bit too raw for this race and he’ll be a good horse, I hope.”

Saturday, York, Britain
IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING GIMCRACK S.-G2, £220,000, YOR, 8-22, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:10.96, gd.
1–#@AJAYA (GB), 126, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Nessina, by Hennessy
2nd Dam: Didina (GB), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Didicoy, by Danzig
(150,000gns RNA Ylg ‘14 TATOCT). O/B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Graham Gibbons. £124,762. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 5-2-2-0, $239,891. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ribchester (Ire), 126, c, 2, Iffraaj (GB)–Mujarah (Ire), by Marju (Ire). (€78,000 Wlg ‘13 GOFNOV; €105,000 Ylg ‘14 GOFORB). O-David W Armstrong; B-A Thompson & M O’Brien (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £47,300.
3–Raucous (GB), 126, c, 2, Dream Ahead–Shyrl (GB), by Acclamation (GB). (100,000gns Ylg ‘14 TAOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Melbourne); B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-William Haggas. £23,672.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2, 2HF. Odds: 3.50, 25.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: King of Rooks (GB), Steady Pace (GB), Areen (Ire), Finnegan (Ire), Ode to Evening (GB). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.