Slowly away when runner-up on debut to the subsequent G3 Solario S. third Eqtiraan (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) over six furlongs at Ascot July 22, Rivet made the normal improvement of a colt of his calibre on his next outing when readily winning the valuable Convivial Maiden over this trip at York's Ebor meeting Aug. 19. Arriving here with a buzz surrounding him, he duly collected after a tussle with the solid yardstick Thunder Snow but the tinge of anti-climax in William Haggas's tone afterwards speaks volumes about the regard in which he is held by the trainer of the likes of Shaamit (Ire) and Mukadhram (GB) (Shamardal). Settled third early off the moderate tempo, the bay travelled kindly for Andrea Atzeni and had only the G2 Vintage S. runner-up Thunder Snow to chase inside the last quarter mile. Although he took until the final 75 yards to get to that rail-running rival, when he did so he asserted gamely as they pulled away from the well-regarded pair of D'Bai and Majeste.
“You would think he would get a mile the way he was galloping on at the line and it was hard to pull him up,” his rider commented. “He's a big horse and can only get better–it was only hands and heels last time and he had to work a bit harder today. James Doyle probably got the run of the race on the rail and my horse has got a little bit lost. He'll be nice next year.” Trainer William Haggas added, “He's had a race today and made heavy weather of it, but he's doing well physically and is a lovely-looking horse and a good mover. He looks like he wants further to me, he was a bit laboured and took a long time to get past, but it was only his third run and his family love top-of-the-ground. He won and that's all that matters really. It looked like a mile would be well within his capabilities. He's in every race I can find and will definitely run again this year. He's owned by an eclectic bunch, an 87-year-old South African, Des Scott, a little breeder called LK Piggott and Mr and Mrs Tabor, but they all leave it to us.” Thunder Snow's trainer Saeed bin Suroor said, “I'm happy with how he finished his race and he saw out the trip well. This horse will certainly improve in the future. He may have needed this race after coming off a break of 45 days, so he will improve for the race. There are no plans at the moment for him. He may go for the [G1] Dewhurst [S. at Newmarket Oct. 8].”
Rivet, whose half-brother is the G3 Gallinule S. winner and G2 King Edward VII S. third Alexander Pope (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), later renamed Packing Tycoon in Hong Kong, is a daughter of a half-sister to Haggas's former sprinting star Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}). She was handed the title of Europe's champion juvenile filly courtesy of a campaign which featured a win in this track's G2 Flying Childers S. and the G3 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot and seconds in the G1 Phoenix S. and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp taking on the older horses. Her own progeny include the G3 Molecomb S. and G3 King George S. winner Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and the listed-winning and G3 Jersey S. runner-up Sentaril (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), while her half-sister New York (Ire) (Danzero {Aus}) produced the G1 Turnbull S. winner December Draw (Ire) (Medecis {GB}). Under the G2 Nassau S.-winning third dam is the G1 Yorkshire Oaks third Rockerlong (GB) (Deploy {GB}) and the G3 Prestige S. heroine Glatisant (GB) (Rainbow Quest), dam of the G1 2000 Guineas-winning sire Footstepsinthesand (GB) and the G1 Phoenix S. hero Pedro the Great (Henrythenavigator). Among their half-siblings is the listed-winning and G2 Dahlia S. third Belle d'Or (Medaglia d'Oro) and Frappe (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}), dam of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 National S.-winning first-season sire of 2016 Power (GB), GI E. P. Taylor S. and G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Curvy (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Thakafaat (Ire) (Unfuwain), also successful in the Ribblesdale. Starship has a yearling colt by Declaration of War.
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
AT THE RACES CHAMPAGNE S.-G2, £75,000, DON, 9-10, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:26.63, gd.
1–#@RIVET (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Starship (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Council Rock (GB), by General Assembly
3rd Dam: Dancing Rocks (GB), by Green Dancer
O-The Starship Partnership; B-Des Scott (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-Andrea Atzeni. £42,532. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $110,548. *1/2 to Alexander Pope (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $241,167. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thunder Snow (Ire), 126, c, 2, Helmet (Aus)–Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. £16,125.
3–D'Bai (Ire), 126, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Savannah Belle (GB), by Green Desert. O-Godolphin; B-Lodge Park Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £8,070.
Margins: HD, 5, NO. Odds: 1.75, 2.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Majeste (GB), Grey Britain (GB), Tommy Taylor. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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