Dark Angel Colt Sets a New Track Record in the Superlative

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain

BET365 SUPERLATIVE S.-G2, £80,000, NEW, 7-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.33, g/f.

1–#@BIRCHWOOD (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)

1st Dam: Layla Jamil (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus)

2nd Dam: Guana Bay (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)

3rd Dam: Jubilee Song, by Song (GB)

(77,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Marathon Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-James Doyle. £45,368. Lifetime Record: SP-Ire, 4-3-0-1, $132,103. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Air Vice Marshal, 127, c, 2, War Front–Gold Vault, by Arch. ($2,200,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Joseph Allen LLC; B-Cherry Valley Farm LLC (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £17,200.

3–Tony Curtis (GB), 127, c, 2, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)–Strawberry Lolly (GB), by Lomitas (GB). (16,000gns Wlg '13 TATFOA; 48,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Chelsea Thoroughbreds (Saint Tropez); B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £8,608.

Margins: 1, NK, 2 1/4. Odds: 7.00, 2.75, 12.00.

Also Ran: They Seek Him Here (Ire), Beaverbrook (GB), Hayadh (GB), War Department (Ire), Champagne City (GB). Scratched: Taking Libertys (GB). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Off the mark over five furlongs at Doncaster May 2, Birchwood had Godolphin's eye when going on to take Newbury's valuable Olympic Glory Conditions S. over an extra panel on the Lockinge undercard a fortnight later and was in the royal blue by the time he made his black-type bow in the Listed Rochestown S. at Naas at the beginning of June. Only third as the 5-6 favorite in that six-furlong contest staged on rain-softened ground, the diminutive bay benefitted from a subsequent break and return to lively ground to set a new juvenile track record in this often-informative staging post. Always near the firing line as the pace proved strong from the outset, he was sent to the lead passing the three-furlong pole with James Doyle in no doubt as to his stamina reserves. Despite veering left late on as the favorite Air Vice Marshal tried to close, Birchwood stayed firmly in command once straightened by a switched whip and hit the line strong to crack the previous benchmark time. “He traveled into it really well and put the race to bed nicely and just had a look late on,” his jockey explained. “He has a lot of speed, so six or seven is fine but this is probably as far as he wants to go at the minute.” Trainer Richard Fahey added, “He just got a bit lonely out in front as it's a big, open space. We'll speak to John [Ferguson] and see where he goes, but he has entries in the G2 Gimcrack S. [at York Aug. 22] and the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. [at The Curragh Sept. 13]. His mind wasn't on the job in Ireland, but today he was a gentleman and we're back where we thought we were with him.” Aidan O'Brien said of Air Vice Marshal, “It was lovely ground and there are no excuses. He was still a little bit green off the bridle, but he will come on for the run. We will look to Goodwood and he should progress well for it.” Tony Curtis' conditioner Richard Hannon was also delighted with the effort of his representative. “Hughesie really likes him and he will get a mile,” he said. “The horse is very similar to Toormore and for me, he is the horse to take out of the race. We will give him a break and look at the G2 Royal Lodge S. [at Newmarket Sept. 26]. He is a very good horse, as time goes on he will get better.”