With Acapulco (Scat Daddy) and others scratched due to unsuitable rain-softened turf, it was left to new kid on the block Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to enhance a banner day for jockey Adam Kirby in this furious dash. Wins in Newmarket's Apr. 30 G3 Palace House S. and Haydock's May 21 G2 Temple S. prompted Darley to secure breeding rights in recent days and he immediately repaid that faith here. The bay was handily placed in the second rank from the outset as Take Cover (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday) set quick fractions racing wide apart on the front end. Looming large at the quarter-mile marker as the pacesetters began to wilt, Profitable kept on strongly in the closing stages to outgame Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the drive for a career high.
“He's the best five-furlong horse I've ever ridden and he is very, very good,” insisted a tearful Kirby, who became father to a boy just hours beforehand. “His cruising speed is phenomenal and I'm delighted for [owner] Alan Spence, everyone involved and, more importantly, [trainer] Clive [Cox]. I know my Mum is watching and she'd be so proud.”
Profitable, who gained his sole black-type score prior to this unbeaten campaign in last term's Listed Westow S. at York, ran second in Sandown's Listed Scurry S. before finishing fifth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at this meet, and closed last term with a 10th in York's Aug. 21 G1 Nunthorpe S. and a fifth in the Sept. 13 G3 Prix du Petit Couvert at Longchamp. He became the first sprinter since Lochsong (GB) (Song {GB}) in 1994 to garner the Palace House, Temple and King's Stand in the same season.
“I thought he might need the run first time out [this year at Newmarket] because he's so laid back at home,” admitted trainer Clive Cox. “I was concerned about soft ground for the Temple, but he won that and gave me confidence coming here today. He travelled so strongly and, watching everything else fall away while he dug in, has made me feel really pleased. I bought him as a yearling and he's been progressive all the way. He was so quick to start with that he was hitting the front too soon in races as a youngster and he didn't know what life was all about. He was a victim of his own ability, but when he got the hang of it and we got the hang of him it's been an upward curve. We gave him some fancy entries last year because we believed in him, but it didn't quite work out, but physically he's a man now. He's very special and I'm delighted for [owner] Alan Spence, for [jockey] Adam Kirby and for the horse's new connections. Any horse that wins a Group 1 is special and I hope we can enjoy a little more success before he goes off to stud. We didn't enter him for the [July 9 G1 ] July Cup because I felt he was best over five furlongs, but the way he has toughed it out today on easy ground, we may need a rethink. We'll talk with Alan and see what's what.”
Charles Hills was understandably delighted with the display of 33-1 runner-up Cotai Glory, admitting beforehand he'd be happy with a lesser placing, and his charge forced Profitable to pull out all the stops in the drive to the line.
“When the rain came I thought we had no chance, but soft ground at Ascot is a little bit different to anywhere else and they seem to be getting through it today,” he said. “I was pleased with the way he was before the race and he looked well up for it. He's had a couple of runs now, which have helped. I wouldn't mind trying him over six furlongs and looking forward to running him on fast ground because he is very fast. We'll have York [for the Aug. 19 G1 Nunthorpe S.] as the firm plan, whether we take another race in between I don't know.”
Goken (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who started at an even bigger 50-1, was eighth in last year's renewal of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at this meet for Henri-Alex Pantall and outstripped all prior form for present trainer Kevin Ryan, which included a win in this term's Listed Golden Rose S., by hitting the board in this competitive sprint.
“He's had a bit of a blip so we've tweaked a few things at home and I'm delighted with him,” said Ryan. “Tracy, who led him up today rides him every day, suggested we ride him from behind like we do at work and she was spot on. She knows him better than I do. So Jamie [Spencer] sat out the back, let him get on with it and picked up the pieces in the last two [furlongs]. Taking nothing away from the winner and the second, but he was a little bit unlucky as he got stopped and after that it's hard to get rolling again.”
Profitable is kin to black-type performers Ridge Ranger (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), Full Mandate (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Danidh Dubai (Ire) (Noverre), the latter being dam of Listed Premio Cancelli scorer Gamgoom (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Listed Junioren-Preis third Nabhan (GB) (Toumzain {Ire}). The winner's younger siblings include a 2-year-old filly Mastercraftsman (Ire) and a yearling colt by Acclamation (GB).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING'S STAND S.-G1, £400,000, ASC, 6-14, 3yo/up, 5fT, 1:02.69, sf.
1–&PROFITABLE (IRE), 130, c, 4, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Dani Ridge (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
2nd Dam: Daniella Drive, by Shelter Half
3rd Dam: De Laroche, by Noble Decree
(95,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Mr A. D. Spence; B-Con Harrington (IRE); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. £226,840. Lifetime Record: 15-5-5-0, $555,737. *1/2 to Ridge Ranger (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), SW & GSP-Eng, $160,292; and Full Mandate (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), GSP-Eng, $457,449. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree
2–Cotai Glory (GB), 130, c, 4, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Continua, by Elusive Quality. (75,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Kangyu Int. Racing (HK) Ltd & Mr F Ma; B-Glebe Stud, J. F. Dean & Lady Trenchard (GB); T-Charles Hills. £86,000.
3–Goken (Fr), 130, c, 4, Kendargent (Fr)–Gooseley Chope (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB). O-Mr Guy Pariente; B-Guy Pariente Holding Sprl (FR); T-Kevin Ryan. £43,040.
Margins: NK, 1, NK. Odds: 4.00, 33.00, 50.00.
Also Ran: Jungle Cat (Ire), Waady (Ire), Medicean Man (GB), Out Do (GB), Move In Time (GB), Mongolian Saturday, Aeolus (GB), Take Cover (GB), Double Up (GB), Sir Maximilian (Ire), Pearl Secret (GB), Lancelot Du Lac (Ity), Mecca's Angel (Ire), Hay Chewed (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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