Paying a handsome compliment to his June 14 G2 Coventry S. conqueror Caravaggio (Scat Daddy), Mehmas earned the reward for his consistency in a race where experience proved key with two promising and unexposed colts making up the placings.
Having opened his account in taking style at Chester May 5, the bay issued a sound beating to Global Applause (GB) (Mayson {GB}) in Newbury's Olympic Glory Conditions S. over this trip May 14 and was favourite to confirm that form when they met again over a furlong shorter in the Listed National S. at Sandown 12 days later. Brushed aside on that occasion, he was 1 1/4 lengths behind that rival when runner-up looking in need of a rise in trip in the process.
No match for Caravaggio at Royal Ascot but clear second ahead of some of the best juveniles seen out so far, he showed his usual exemplary professionalism here to break smartly for Frankie Dettori and enjoy a tow from the speedy pair Yalta (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Barrington (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}). Committed with a quarter mile to race, Mehmas was typically blue-collar in grinding his way to the front approaching the furlong pole and kept finding as the slow-starter Intelligence Cross made up eye-catching ground along with another raw colt in Broken Stones.
“He sticks his head down and tries really hard, so you're always guaranteed a good run from him,” his admiring rider commented. “He's very uncomplicated and versatile on different ground and can have cover or no cover. He has a kick, so it's a question of pressing the button. He's a lovely horse with a great nature.” Trainer Richard Hannon added, “He got a nice lead in to the race and I'd say he's getting lazy and only just does enough, as we've seen at home. He deserved that to set him up as a stallion now. He's a professional and is definitely better on fast ground and while I'm not saying we'll ever beat the Coventry winner, we might get closer on faster ground. He's in the [G1] Phoenix S. [at The Curragh Aug. 7] and we'll have a look at that and Goodwood [the July 28 G2 Richmond S.]. He looks like a two-year-old at the moment, so we'll make hay as the sun shines. That said, he's such a laid-back horse so will definitely last and he has a lot of class and a big heart. You can't ask for more than that.”
Mehmas is out of a half-sister to Blue Monday (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), a triple group winner who was also placed in the G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Eclipse S. as well as the smart Australian group performer Rugged Cross (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and the G1 Derby Italiano third Lundy's Lane (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Another of her half-siblings Jakarta (Ire) (Machiavellian) is the dam of the MGSP Puggy (Ire) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), who in turn produced Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), heroine of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane. The third dam Lucayan Princess was responsible for the dual G1 Coronation Cup hero Warrsan (Ire) (Caerleon) and the triple group 1-winning national hunt sire Luso (GB), as well as fellow sire Needle Gun (Ire) and the G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner and G1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Cloud Castle (GB) (In the Wings {GB}). She went on to throw a trio of black-type performers headed by Queen's Best (GB) (King's Best), who was successful in the G3 Winter Hill S. and finished second in the G2 Blandford S. before producing the recent G2 Ribblesdale S. fourth Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Mehmas's extended family has plentiful stamina, with the “Cup” horse Tastahil (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) featuring alongside the high-class hurdler Nichols Canyon (GB) (Authorized {Ire}).
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
ARQANA JULY S.-G2, £80,000, NEW, 7-7, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:10.92, g/f.
1–#@MEHMAS (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Lucina (GB), by Machiavellian
2nd Dam: Lunda (Ire), by Soviet Star
3rd Dam: Lucayan Princess (Ire), by High Line (GB)
(62,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT; 170,000gns 2yo '16 TATBRE). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $172,001. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Intelligence Cross, 126, c, 2, War Front">War Front–Good Vibes, by Unbridled's Song. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Good Vibes Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £17,200.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]3–Broken Stones (Ire), 126, c, 2, Requinto (Ire)–Positive Step (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). (€30,000 Wlg '14 GOFNOV; 50,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT; 200,000gns 2yo '16 TATBRE). O-Matt & Lauren Morgan; B-Highpark Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £8,608.[bullet ad=”performance-genetics-selection”]Margins: HF, 1, HD. Odds: 2.75, 7.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Silver Line (Ire), Medici Banchiere (GB), Barrington (Ire), Bohemian Flame (Ire), Yalta (Ire), Ardad (Ire). Scratched: Love Dreams (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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