Champagne On Ice

When it comes to impressive debuts, Godolphin’s Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal) was textbook at Newmarket Aug. 7 and the ‘TDN Rising Star’ is set to start a hot favorite to deliver on that considerable promise in Saturday’s G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster. Out of the 2001 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled’s Song) and therefore a half-brother to the operation’s MGSW Etched (Forestry) and the 2012 GIII Sham S. winner Out of Bounds (Discreet Cat), the homebred is cut out for the dirt but the manner of his turf introduction when disposing of some subsequent winners suggests he will be a force on grass too. Trainer Charlie Appleby is full of hope as long as the forecast rain does not prove too significant. “He’s in great order. William [Buick] sat on him on Wednesday and he couldn’t be happier with him,” he said. “We know it’s a big step up from a maiden to a Group 2, but he shows all the right signs at home. He has come on massively for his first run and has progressed both physically and mentally. Like a lot of mine, we expect him to progress from that first run. Both this race and the Flying Scotsman looked similar on paper, with one being a Listed race and the other a Group 2. For his career going forward it would look better to have a Group 2 win by his name, so we decided to take up that option as he already had an entry in it. We’re going to the Champagne on Saturday full of confidence.”

One who has already been engaged at this level and proven his worth is Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Ibn Malik (Ire) (Raven’s Pass), who was second in what could have been a below-par renewal of Goodwood’s G2 Vintage S. over this trip last time July 28. Just a nose ahead of the re-opposing subsequent scorer Palawan (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) there, he sets a slender form standard that is well within the reach of a potential class act. “I thought it was a massive run last time as he went there with only one run under his belt,” jockey Paul Hanagan said. “I didn’t think he was that happy with the track at Goodwood and he’ll be much better at Doncaster. He had to take it all in beforehand–a big crowd, a lot of noise. I thought it was a very good run.” Palawan is one of the blue-collar brigade of Richard Hannon’s ever-strengthening stable and will be having his eighth start since the beginning of June here, but at least comes into it on the back of an impressive conditions win at this distance at Goodwood 11 days ago. “Palawan was only a nose behind Ibn Malik in the Vintage S. at Goodwood, having forfeited ground by hanging over to the stands rails, so wherever he finishes we should be right there with him,” his trainer said. “Our fellow had a good confidence-booster back at Goodwood recently and he goes up there at the top of his form.”