Since the Joel was upgraded to offer Champions Day aspirants a prep in 2011, the race has had mixed results and there were question marks over all of the protagonists lined up for this renewal. In the event, it was one of the most experienced and oldest who came to the fore in Cougar Mountain who enjoyed a rare day in the sun and a second pattern-race success. That had come in last year's G3 Desmond S. over this trip at Leopardstown, in which he probably did not need to reproduce the form of his previous third to Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. For a horse who had the raw ability to finish three-lengths fifth on just his second career start in the 2014 G1 Gold Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket, he has failed to hit the requisite heights and has had cheekpieces, blinkers and a visor applied at various stages. The latter piece of headgear failed to light his torch when sixth in the seven-furlong G2 Park S. at Doncaster Sept. 10, but this combination of straight track and fast ground which he had encountered only once in his career when winning on debut in a six-furlong maiden at Naas in June 2014 brought out the best in him. Staying adrift of the inevitable strong pace set by Gifted Master early, Cougar Mountain stayed on strongly to reel him in 1 1/2 furlongs out and draw away for an impressive score.
Coolmore's UK representative Kevin Buckley was not surprised by the outcome and said, “We came here hopeful, as we knew he'd come out of his race in Doncaster in good form. The key to him is he likes this good-to-firm ground, which we've been in search of, and personally I think he's probably better over the mile trip. He's been knocking on the door and been there or thereabouts and we're going to have to go in search of that ground again. We might have a look at the [G1] Queen Elizabeth II [S. at Ascot Oct. 15] on Champions Day, if the ground was going to be in any way lively. Alternatively, we could look at going over to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Mile. He's a bit of a character, but a likeable rogue.” Ryan Moore added, “He's run some very good races and performed very well and moved beautifully today. It was a funny race, but he always felt like he was going to go and win.” After some indifferent efforts, Gifted Master was back to near his best and trainer Hugo Palmer commented, “That was a blinding run. The horse absolutely adores this track and William [Buick] felt that a mile is his trip, which is what I've felt all along. He's in the [G2] Challenge Stakes in two weeks' time and we might have a go at it, provided he's okay. The long-term target is the G2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night. I don't know if he will go on dirt, but the way he runs he shouldn't have a problem with sand getting kicked in his face.”
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
SHADWELL JOEL S.-G2, £109,000, NEW, 9-23, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.85, g/f.
1–COUGAR MOUNTAIN (IRE), 130, h, 5, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Descant, by Nureyev
2nd Dam: Zaizafon, by The Minstrel
3rd Dam: Mofida (GB), by Right Tack (GB)
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £61,814. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 7-9.5f, GSW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, 18-3-2-1, $331,857. *Full to Ambiguity (Ire), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Gifted Master (Ire), 126, g, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Shobobb (GB), by Shamardal. (75,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O-Dr Ali Ridha; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £23,435.
3–Nathra (Ire), 123, f, 3, Iffraaj (GB)–Rada (Ire), by Danehill. (270,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden. £11,728.
Margins: 3 1/4, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 7.50, 6.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: Amazing Maria (Ire), Custom Cut (Ire), Forge (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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