By Tom Frary
Last seen finishing a close fifth in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp in October, Ballydoyle's Pink Dogwood returned to land a gamble and point towards the G1 Epsom Oaks at the end of next month. Held up this time as the front-running tactics employed on Arc day were dismissed, the bay had three behind turning into the straight and despite bringing Encapsulation with her as she gained the lead a furlong out stayed on the better in the final reckoning. “She was just ready to start off and you couldn't be happier with her. The plan was always that we would go to the Oaks and whether she will have a run or not before then, I'm not sure,” Aidan O'Brien said. “It's possible, but not definite, that she will go straight there. She's a lovely mover and would prefer better [ground], I would imagine.”
Pink Dogwood is yet another formidable arrow in the quiver of Camelot as the already-influential Coolmore sire seeks a first Derby winner to emulate his own achievement in the blue riband. She is a full-sister to last year's G1 Irish Derby hero and G1 Irish St Leger runner-up Latrobe and a half to the G3 Gladness S. scorer Diamond Fields. The listed-placed dam is a half-sister to the G3 Sceptre S. winner and G1 Cheveley Park S. runner-up Sunday Times (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is in turn responsible for last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf-winning luminary Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The third dam Simply Times produced the G2 Hungerford S. and G3 Bentinck S. winner Welsh Emperor (Ire) (Emperor Jones) who was also runner-up in two editions of the G1 Prix de la Foret. Question Times also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Zoffany (Ire) named Enthused (Ire) who cost €325,000 at Goffs Orby in October and a yearling filly by Galileo (Ire).
PINK DOGWOOD (IRE), f, 3, Camelot (GB)">Camelot (GB)–Question Times (GB) (SP-Eng), by Shamardal).
(115,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA; €380,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Sweetmans Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €35,400. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, €55,813.
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