By Tom Frary
Sunday's G2 Charm Spirit Dahlia S. looked top-heavy on paper, with Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) far clear on form with only the minor burden of a five-pound penalty threatening a turn-up. In the event, it was all plain sailing for William Buick as Godolphin's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine sauntered through the race before powering to an emphatic four-length success from Wilamina (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Sent off a generous 10-11, the chestnut travelled menacingly just off the pace which her rider judged insufficient as he sent her to the front passing the three-furlong marker. Rolling down the “dip” with the race already decided, the homebred enjoyed a facile introduction with bigger tests upcoming. Trainer Charlie Appleby, who bar the defeats of his charges in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas had been dominating the meeting numerically in terms of winners, commented, “Her work has been great. She looked great and everyone was very happy with her. The only concern was that she was a bit short of work. She's entitled to come forward a good bit.”
Appleby is contemplating a trip back to the States and added, “It always helps when you've got good horses like her as you can pretty much set the clock by them. I said to William to be careful as we didn't want to get caught out fitness-wise as she's still got to come forward a bit. I'll speak to Sheikh Mohammed about whether we go to America or stay in Europe. We had thought about going to Saratoga or Deauville in August. These are things to think about, not worry about.”
Wuheida, who first sprang to prominence when taking the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac in 2016, is the second foal out of the operation's G1 Fillies's Mile and GI Yellow Ribbon S. heroine Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). Her third dam Oh So Hot (GB) (Habitat) is a full-sister to the former Warren Place celebrity Roussalka (GB), whose four group wins include two runnings of the G2 Nassau S. She is also kin to the outstanding G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 St Leger heroine and fellow Henry Cecil trainee Oh So Sharp (Ire) (Kris {GB}), who is herself the dam of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Rosefinch (Blushing Groom {Fr}). Hibaayeb's 2-year-old full-sister to Wuheida is named Ophelia's Dream (GB).
Sunday, Newmarket, Britain
CHARM SPIRIT DAHLIA S.-G2, £105,000, NEW, 5-6, 4yo/up, f, 9fT, 1:50.43, g/f.
1–WUHEIDA (GB), 131, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hibaayeb (GB) (G1SW-Eng, GISW-US & G1SP-Fr, $630,316), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lady Zonda (GB), by Lion Cavern
3rd Dam: Zonda (GB), by Fabulous Dancer
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £59,546. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, GISW-US, G1SP-Eng & Ger, 8-4-1-1, $1,537,519. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wilamina (Ire), 126, m, 5, Zoffany (Ire)–Tropical Lake (Ire), by Lomond. (€13,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; €50,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-The Snailwell Stud; B-John Boden & Willie Kane (IRE); T-Martyn Meade. £22,575.
3–Indian Blessing (GB), 126, f, 4, Sepoy (Aus)–Alpen Glen (GB), by Halling. (€95,000 Ylg '15 ARAUG; €170,000 2yo '16 ARQMAY). O-P K Siu; B-Jocelyn Targett (GB); T-Ed Walker. £11,298.
Margins: 4, 3 3/4, NO. Odds: 0.90, 12.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Mia Tesoro (Ire), Golden Legend (Fr), Billesdon Bess (GB), Tisbutadream (Ire), Elegant Pose (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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