By Tom Frary
Second in the Listed Height of Fashion S. over 10 furlongs at Goodwood last May, The Black Princess was third in the G2 Ribblesdale S. over this trip at Royal Ascot in June and re-emerged from a six-month break to capture the Listed Prix Solitude over the former trip at Saint-Cloud in November. Returning to beat the subsequent G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud third Armande (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in Chantilly's G3 Prix Allez France also over 10 furlongs Apr. 30, the bay was second over slightly further in the G2 Middleton S. at York May 18 and stepped up to provide John Gosden with a record-equalling seventh renewal of this affair. Anchored on the rail early in fifth racing keenly, she was denied a run to her outer as Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}) was sent on passing the quarter pole. Switched back and launched between rivals as that favourite lugged right, she reeled her in with 100 yards remaining and stayed on gamely for more pattern-race honours.
With Gosden absent, his travelling head lad Tony Proctor was on hand to say, “She's done nothing wrong since we've had her. She went to France and won there. Then she ran at York and made the running, which didn't suit her. Mentally, she's been a bit slow at coming to herself. Physically, she's always been there. She's not had many races and looked as good today as we thought she would.” Ballymacoll Stud's general manager Peter Reynolds said of Abingdon, who will be a key member of the dispersal later this year, “She ran a super race, she just got caught but she is group two-placed now and is a valuable lady. She will be sold in December, sadly, but I hope she will give us more fun before then.”
The Black Princess is the second foal out of Larceny, who is a half-sister to three group winners headed by the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero and sire Lawman (Fr), the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Latice (Ire) (Inchnor {GB}) who in turn is the dam of the dual listed scorer Fencing (Street Cry {Ire}), and the G3 Prix du Palais-Royal-winning sire Satri (Ire). The third dam Light the Lights, who was successful in the G2 Prix de Pomone and ran third in the G1 Prix Vermeille, is a half-sister to three black-type winners headed by the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air winner Liastra (GB) (Artaius) whose descendants include the GIII Tropical Park Derby victor Go Lib Go (Septieme Ciel). Also featuring the G2 Prix de Malleret winner Al Wathna (GB) (Nayef) and the GI American Oaks third Little Journey (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}), the family has additions of Larceny's 2-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire) named Gabrielle (Fr) and a yearling filly by Zebedee (GB).
Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BET365 LANCASHIRE OAKS-G2, £93,000, HAY, 7-8, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 175yT, 2:33.74, g/f.
1–THE BLACK PRINCESS (FR), 131, f, 4, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Larceny (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Laramie, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Light the Lights (Fr), by Shirley Heights (GB)
(€170,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-R J H Geffen; B-Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-John Gosden; J-Robert Tart. £52,740. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 8-4-3-1, $227,960. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Abingdon, 131, f, 4, Street Cry (Ire)–Justlookdontouch (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Ballymacoll Stud (KY); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £19,995.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]3–Ajman Princess (Ire), 131, f, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Reem Three (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £10,007.
Margins: HF, 1, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 1.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Hertford Dancer (GB), Rich Legacy (Ire), Lucy The Painter (Ire), Dubka (GB). Scratched: Wilamina (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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