Impressive on debut when accounting for the subsequent dual winner Maths Prize (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) over seven furlongs at Sandown at the start of July, Larchmont Lad was third to Rodaini (Exchange Rate) when beaten in a three-way photo in the Listed Flying Scotsman S. also over this trip at Doncaster Sept. 9. Building on that experience of battle here, the bay who was always close to the early pace in third gained a narrow lead passing the furlong pole with four pursuers in close attendance. Chief threat among those appeared to be Sir Dancealot, who looked to have been produced with a winning run on his outer but he dug deep for Sean Levey to see off that challenge and assert as the green Whitecliffsofdover found another surge in the dying strides. Disappointment of the race was the previously unbeaten Escobar (Ire) (Famous Name {GB}), who faded quickly after appearing to hold every chance with a quarter mile to race.
Winning trainer Richard Hannon is contemplating a tilt at a top-level prize before the season is out with Larchmont Lad. “I think that was a good race. He just needed that run [at Doncaster],” he explained. “I wanted to run him at Glorious Goodwood, but he had a little problem and got an infection in the back hoof wall and we had to go and sort that out. He missed that and then we took him to Doncaster, where he hit the front but needed it mentally and physically. I've always thought a fair bit of him and he's a very straightforward horse. I don't think he's in the [G1] Prix Jean-Luc Largardere [at Chantilly Oct. 2] any more, but he'd be ideal for that. There's a chance he could be supplemented, but I'm just happy to leave him in the promised land now for the winter. He's the sort of horse that will get better through the winter and he could well turn up in the either the Craven or the Greenham next spring. He's a Guineas horse, for sure.” Coolmore's UK representative Kevin Buckley said of Whitecliffsofdover, “I was very pleased with that run. He's improving all the time. He loves that trip and there's no reason to suggest he would not get a mile in time. Ryan Moore was happy with him, but said he was still a little bit green. These War Fronts prefer proper good-to-firm going, so there's no point running him on soft ground. We might look at going to America as a possible option.”
Larchmont Lad is out of a half-sister to the G2 Premio Parioli-winning Italian highweight Spirit of Desert (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) from the family of the G1 Gran Premio d'Italia, G2 Hardwicke S. and G2 Princess of Wales's S. hero Posidonas (GB). The third dam Tamassos, who is a half-sister to the G1 Juddmonte International-winning sire Ile de Chypre (GB), also produced the Singapore Gold Cup-winning sire Carry the Flag (GB), the SW and MGSP Final Verse (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) and also the dam of the G3 Give Thanks S. winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Unsung Heroine (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
TATTERSALLS S. (SOMERVILLE S.)-G3, £50,000, NEW, 9-22, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:24.81, gd.
1–#@LARCHMONT LAD (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Footstepsinthesand (GB)">Footstepsinthesand (GB)
1st Dam: Fotini (Ire), by King's Best
2nd Dam: Nomothetis (Ire), by Law Society
3rd Dam: Tamassos (GB), by Dance in Time
(€110,000 Ylg '15 TISEP). O-Michael Geoghegan; B-Domenico Fonzo (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $46,409. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Whitecliffsofdover, 126, c, 2, War Front">War Front–Orate, by A.P. Indy. ($1,150,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Claiborne Farm (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £10,750.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-keen-grad”]3–Sir Dancealot (Ire), 126, c, 2, Sir Prancealot (Ire)–Majesty's Dancer (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€15,000 Wlg '14 GOFNOV; €30,000 Ylg '15 GOFSPT). O-C Benham/D Whitford/L Quinn/K Quinn; B-Vincent Duignan (IRE); T-David Elsworth. £5,380.
Margins: 3/4, HD, HF. Odds: 8.00, 4.50, 9.00.
Also Ran: Best Solution (Ire), Law and Order (Ire), Ultimate Avenue (Ire), Escobar (Ire), Bear Valley (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
