At the time of her win in the Listed Salsabil S. at Navan last April, Bocca Baciata had for many the look of a ready-made Classic winner so subsequent events can only be seen as an anti-climax of sorts as she was readily upstaged if not totally disgraced when fifth in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas here the month after. It may be that the Niarchos colour-bearer needed time to mature, but she gave a reminder that she was still a force to be reckoned with when the impressive winner of the G3 Dance Design S. over this trip in August. Third in the G2 Blandford S. over 10 furlongs back here in September and fifth in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. trying a mile and a half at Ascot, the dark bay regained the winning thread in the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. over an extended nine-furlong trip at Gowran Park Apr. 24 but there remained a sense that she was capable of better. Third behind what could prove to be an outstanding filly in Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G3 Blue Wind S. over a mile and a quarter at Naas May 11, Bocca Bacciata was fourth in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup over another half furlong at this venue May 22 before running second to Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 10-furlong G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh June 26. Sluggish at the start before being settled under cover in mid-division early by Colm O'Donoghue, she was angled out behind the long-time leader Hawksmoor and Ballydoyle's Earring inside the final two furlongs and gained the lead from that warring pair of 3-year-olds in the last 50 yards. “She just took a while to get going and another 100 yards would suit her. She has gone on improving,” trainer Jessie Harrington said. “Races like the [Aug. 13 GI] Beverly D. at Arlington, the [GI] E.P. Taylor [at Woodbine Oct. 16] and [G1] Prix de l'Opera [at Chantilly Oct. 2] are all possible targets. She has her group two and we just want a group one now.” Sovana has previous in producing high-class runners, having thrown the G3 Prix Miesque winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Topeka and her G3 Prix Edmond Blanc-winning full-sister Kalsa (Ire). Third in the G3 Prix Minerve herself, the Oldham family's representative is a half to the G3 Prix Eclipse scorer Perugina (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) from the family of the G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Romildo (GB) and the multiple stakes-producing Virginia Reef (Ire) (Mill Reef). Sovana also has a yearling colt by Dutch Art (GB) to come.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
KILBOY ESTATE S.-G2, €115,000, CUR, 7-17, 3yo/up, f, 9fT, 1:54.38, gd.
1–BOCCA BACIATA (IRE), 135, f, 4, by Big Bad Bob (Ire)
1st Dam: Sovana (Ire) (GSP-Fr), by Desert King (Ire)
2nd Dam: Piacenza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Kahara, by Habitat
(€230,000 Ylg '13 GOFORB). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Citadel Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Colm O'Donoghue. €67,850. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 16-5-1-4, $347,505. *1/2 to Topeka (Ire) (Whipper), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $211,658; and Kalsa (Ire) (Whipper), GSW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Earring, 126, f, 3, Dansili (GB)–Together (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €23,000.
[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]3–Hawksmoor (Ire), 129, f, 3, Azamour (Ire)–Bridal Dance (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€80,000 Ylg '14 TISEP). O-Lael Stable; B-Tenuta Genzianella (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. €11,500.
Margins: HF, HD, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 12.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Epsom Icon (GB), Devonshire (Ire), Best in the World (Ire), Santa Monica (GB), Kind of Magic (Ire), Duchess Andorra (Ire), Lady of Dubai (GB), Tanaza (Ire), Kyllachy Queen (Ire). Scratched: Agnes Stewart (Ire), Lucida (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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