By Tom Frary
The G2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack S. is the key juvenile race of York's Ebor meeting named after the region's legendary racehorse and trainer Kevin Ryan is developing a habit of winning it with Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) becoming his fourth on Friday. Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh's bay had suggested he was up to this standard when beating the useful Blown By Wind (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on debut over five furlongs at Windsor Apr. 30 and when third after an absence in Newbury's six-furlong Listed Rose Bowl S. July 20 and attracted supported into 5-1. Happy on the front end under Frankie Dettori who deputised after Jamie Spencer called in sick, he began to assert from before the furlong pole and saw off the threat of TDN Rising Star Legends of War (Scat Daddy) to prevail by a half length, with the 9-4 favourite Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) 3/4 of a length back in third. “Kevin [Ryan] said he probably wants seven and to make plenty of use of him, so I was there to be shot at and he showed great courage,” Dettori said after his third flying dismount in the last 24 hours. “He's still on the weak side and can only get better. He's got a racing brain and he was never going to let one pass. I told Kevin to try not to over-race him this year as he needs to get strength but that will come in time.”
Ryan, whose trio of previous winners include the subsequent G1 Middle Park S. hero and sire Amadeus Wolf (GB) (Mozart {Ire}), is thinking of going further than this trip with the winner. “He's always been very smart and I was a little bit disappointed at Newbury, but the ground was a bit loose there,” he explained. “He's still quite a raw horse and he'll make a nice three-year-old. I think he'll run again, possibly the [G1] Dewhurst [at Newmarket Oct. 13], but nothing is set in stone. He's in the [G1] Middle Park [at Newmarket Sept. 29], but I think he'll get another furlong so we'll see. He should get a mile next year, so that makes you think about the Guineas.” John Gosden is sticking at this trip with Legends of War. “He ran a lovely race. I couldn't be more pleased with him,” he commented. “He was nicely ridden. The winner was always too good for us, but I'm really, really happy. To finish second in the Gimcrack is great and that is his trip. We'll go straight to the Middle Park.”
It is a surprise that Emaraaty Ana is able to do what he has over this trip at two, as his pedigree profile screams middle-distances. His dam Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) scored over a mile and a half in the Listed Princess Royal S. and is a half to the G3 Prix de Flore and G3 Prix Corrida scorer Trumbaka (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}), who in turn is the second dam of Esteve (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who took the 12-furlong Listed Derby du Languedoc in June. The dam, who is also a half to two other black-type performers including the Listed Newmarket S. runner-up Centurius (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), has a yearling filly by that sire to follow. The family also features the precocious MG1SP Russian Blue (Ire) (Danehill) and fellow sires Poliglote (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and Indian Danehill (Ire) (Danehill).
Friday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD GIMCRACK S.-G2, £225,000, York, 8-24, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:10.79, g/f.
1–EMARAATY ANA (GB), 126, c, 2, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Questina, by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Soviet Squaw, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £127,598. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $173,686. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Legends of War, 126, c, 2, Scat Daddy–Madera Dancer, by Rahy. ($200,000 Ylg '17 FTKTUR; 900,000gns 2yo '18 TATBRE). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-DP Racing LLC (KY); T-John Gosden. £48,375.
3–Shine So Bright (GB), 126, c, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Alla Speranza (GB), by Sir Percy (GB). (57,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA; €27,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR; £375,000 2yo '18 GOFLON). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £24,210.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 2. Odds: 5.00, 14.00, 2.25.
Also Ran: The Irish Rover (Ire), Showout (GB), Semoum, Space Traveller (GB), Cosmic Law (Ire), Chuck Willis (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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