By Tom Frary
On a night when Aidan O'Brien unveiled the cast of next year's shows, Happily summed up the current state at Rosegreen at least where its 2-year-olds are concerned. Despite being left behind in the maelstrom created by stablemate and TDN Rising Star September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) when 10-lengths seventh on debut over course and distance June 8, the sister of two of Ballydoyle's Classic winners Gleneagles and Marvellous was merely following the current vogue of the yard's newcomers rather than giving conclusive evidence of her ability. That came to the fore, much as it had for The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), on her second start when she brushed aside Shalailah over the same trip at The Curragh June 30 and that form was boosted when the third Sizzling (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) went to Newmarket's July meeting and ran a solid race behind Godolphin's blue-blooded Poetic Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Keen early in third as her barnmate Easter Lily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set off as she had when putting her own seal on a July 13 course-and-distance maiden, Happily was stoked up by Ryan Moore on the bend and loomed alongside that pace-setter and Dawn Delivers approaching the final furlong. Without recourse to the whip, her rider was able to feel the genuine power spring from under him and his partner stretched daylight between her and the remainder willingly as the line neared. “Donnacha loved her the first day and she jumped forward the next time and looks to have done so again,” her trainer commented after greeting his 10th winner of this race. “We could look at the [G2] Debutante S. [at The Curragh Aug. 20] and the [G1] Moyglare [Stud S. at The Curragh Sept. 10] after that.”
It was on this card in 2014 that Gleneagles registered an easy first pattern-race success in the Tyros and Happily is more in line with him as far as precocity is concerned, which offers much hope for her future as the family tends to improve race-to-race. Her other sibling Marvellous only got started in October of her juvenile year and two runs later was the winner of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, while Taj Mahal and Coolmore flashed above-average ability both at home and on the track. This is the gold-plated dynasty of Giant's Causeway, whose resilience was as marked as his talent and who remains the family's shining example. His siblings include seven stakes performers headed by this filly's G2 Cherry Hinton S.-winning dam and two less-accomplished performers who nevertheless have proven vestibules for the family's dynamism. One is Pearling (Storm Cat), dam of this year's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and G1 Jebel Hatta hero Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) who was also runner-up in the G1 Prince of Wales's S., and the other the unraced Love Me Only (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), responsible for the G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner and G1 English and Irish Derby-placed Storm the Stars (Sea the Stars {Ire}).
Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
JOCKEY CLUB OF TURKEY SILVER FLASH S.-G3, €60,000, LEO, 7-27, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:28.99, gd.
1–HAPPILY (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: You'resothrilling (GSW-Eng & Ire, $219,415), by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Mariah's Storm, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Immense, by Roberto
*1st stakes win.
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale & Chelston Ireland (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €35,400. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $55,639. *Full to Gleneagles (Ire), Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9.5f, Hwt, 2yo Colt-Ire, MG1SW-Eng & Ire & G1SP-Fr, $1,427,036; Marvellous (Ire), G1SW-Ire, $262,665; Coolmore (Ire), GSW-Ire & GISP-US, $238,593; and Taj Mahal (Ire), GSP-Ire, $162,261. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Shalailah (Ire), 126, f, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Perfect Venture (GB), by Bahamian Bounty (GB). (£48,000 Ylg '16 GOUKPR). O-Sean Jones; B-John Cullinan (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €12,000.
3–Dawn Delivers (GB), 126, f, 2, Dawn Approach (Ire)">Dawn Approach (Ire)–Siyasa, by Rahy. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Jim Bolger. €6,000.
Margins: 5, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 20.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Golden Spell (GB), Easter Lily (Ire). Scratched: Betsey Trotter (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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