By Tom Frary
At comparative stages of their careers, God Given is narrowly outperforming her illustrious half-brother Postponed who on this date during his 3-year-old campaign was still a week off showing his true colours for the first time for this stable in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. Third to the high-class fillies Sobetsu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in respective maidens at Newmarket in September and at Yarmouth the following month, the bay returned to be second in a 12-furlong maiden back at
Newmarket May 20 before getting off the mark by four lengths on soft ground over slightly shorter at Haydock June 9. Showing what an improving force she was becoming when following up in the July 22 Listed Aphrodite S. at Newmarket, she was sent straight to the lead in this hotter contest by a confident Jamie Spencer and was always happy there as her rivals allowed her plenty of rope. Kicking decisively three out, she tended to wander left in the straight but was always comfortably holding the Aga Khan's outsider Calayana and Godolphin's Lady Montdore on the run to the line.
For Luca Cumani, the result was a welcome postscript to the tale of losing her half-brother just as he neared his peak. “I have to thank the owner, as this is the first horse I have trained for him and he sent me her as I had just had Postponed taken away from me, which is wonderful of him,” he explained. “I knew she wouldn't be a two-year-old, so what she did at two was promising enough to suggest she could run in stakes races at three and she has done that with success now. She is progressing regularly and is a gorgeous-looking filly whose long-term goal is the [G1 British Champions] Fillies and Mares [S. at Ascot Oct. 21]. In between, she could come back to France for the [G1 Prix] Vermeille [at Chantilly Sept. 10]. She goes on good ground, but is better on this ground and might have it more in the second part of the season.”
Ever Rigg, who also has a 2-year-old colt by Makfi (GB) and a yearling full-brother to Postponed, is out of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G2 Lowther S. winner Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse), whose more accomplished daughter Pietra Dura (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) produced the GIII Beverly Hills H. winner and GI Yellow Ribbon S. runner-up Turning Top (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Bianca Nera is a half to Hotelgenie Dot Com (GB) (Selkirk), runner-up in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and third in the G1 Fillies' Mile before becoming the dam of Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) who went one better in the Fillies Mile and also captured the G1 Falmouth S. This is a family that Ballydoyle have had success with in recent times, with descendents of Birch Creek including the stable's G3 International S. winner Mekong River (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Curragh Cup and G3 Vintage Crop S. scorer and G1 St Leger runner-up Bondi Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who took the G3 Jersey S. after finishing runner-up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G2 Norfolk S. and third in the G1 Middle Park S.
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX MINERVE-G3, €80,000, DVL, 8-13, 3yo, f, 12 1/2fT, 2:43.67, sf.
1–GOD GIVEN (GB), 123, f, 3, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Ever Rigg (GB), by Dubai Destination
2nd Dam: Bianca Nera (GB), by Salse
3rd Dam: Birch Creek (GB), by Carwhite (Ire)
*1st Group win. O-St Albans Bloodstock Ltd; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Luca Cumani; J-Jamie Spencer. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 6-3-1-2, €71,873. *1/2 to Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 9.5-11f, MG1SW-Eng, 2x Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-UAE at 11-14f, G1SW-UAE, GSW-Fr & G1SP-Ire, $7,226,764. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Calayana (Fr), 123, f, 3, Sinndar (Ire)–Clariyn (Fr), by Acclamation (GB). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. €16,000.
3–Lady Montdore, 123, f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Hystericalady, by Distorted Humor. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (KY); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]Margins: 1 3/4, NK, HD. Odds: 4.70, 25.90, 7.50.
Also Ran: Elas Ruby (GB), Lady Paname (Fr), Standing Rock (Ire), Saxon Rose (GB), Sirrin (Ire), Mademoiselle Marie (Fr), Nacida (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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