By Tom Frary
Earning TDN Rising Star status on debut at Newmarket July 13, Al Hilalee managed to double his tally in a thriller as Duke of Hazzard and Great Scot proved genuine threats late on. Keen initially before settling in a close-up second for William Buick, the bay was committed just inside the final quarter mile and had first run on his two compatriots which proved decisive as both the unfortunate Duke of Hazzard and the wide-running Great Scot would have been past in another stride. “We went forward and William said afterwards that probably isn't the way to ride him, but we felt we needed to go forward from where he were drawn,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “I always thought he was a nice horse, but we had to use him up a bit too early on and he is one who is better waited with. He definitely has quality and will be a good horse for next year, but I'd like to win the [G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 7] and if he goes for that we'll probably bring him back without a run in between. If not, we could look at races like the [G3] Autumn Stakes [at Newmarket Oct. 13] and the [G2] Royal Lodge [S. at Newmarket Sept. 29].”
The first foal out of the G1 Pretty Polly S. and G2 Middleton S. winner Ambivalent who was also third in the G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Al Hilalee is therefore connected to the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp hero Total Gallery (Ire) (Namid {GB}) and the G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Lady Darshaan (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). The third dam Flamenco (Dance Spell) captured the G3 Waterford Candelabra S., or Prestige as it is now known. Ambivalent's yearling is a full-sister to the winner, while she also has a filly foal by Sea the Stars (Ire).
Saturday, Deauville, France
CRITERIUM DU FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE-Listed, €122,000, Deauville, 8-18, 2yo, 8fT, 1:47.38, g/s.
1–AL HILALEE (GB), 126, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Ambivalent (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-UAE & GSP-Tur, $1,014,955), by Authorized (Ire)
2nd Dam: Darrery (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Flamenco, by Dance Spell
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (300,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €61,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €69,750.
2–Duke of Hazzard (Fr), 126, c, 2, Lope de Vega (Ire)–With Your Spirit (Fr), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€130,000 Ylg '17 ARAUG). O-Mrs Fitri Hay. €24,400.
3–Great Scot (GB), 126, c, 2, Requinto (Ire)–La Rosiere, by Mr. Greeley. (£2,500 RNA Ylg '17 TATIAS). O-Empire State Racing Partnership. €18,300.
Margins: SHD, SHD, 3/4. Odds: 0.90, 6.80, 5.90.
Also Ran: Julius Limbani (Ire), Certain Lad (GB), Famous Wolf (Fr), All Star Cast (Ire). Scratched: El Ingrato (Fr), Crying Over Here (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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