Pivotal Colt Takes Flight At York

HE'S GOT WINGS
Successful in a minor 12-furlong maiden at Wolverhampton Apr. 23, Lady Bamford's Wings of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) had little in the way of form to recommend him for Thursday's G2 Betfred Dante S. at York, but he is a full-brother to the 2014 G2 King Edward VII S. winner and last year's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. runner-up Eagle Top (GB) and was the pick of Frankie Dettori over the proven Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). In last early, the 9-1 shot crept into contention out wide on the home turn and stayed on to reel in Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 50 yards from the post en route to a neck success. “I knew this horse could be anything and he proved it today–I think if he goes further he'll be even better,” Dettori said. “I took a pull early in the straight because he's very raw and when he hits the front he's mentally immature, so I wanted to use Ryan [Moore on Deauville] as a target. He can only improve, as it was only his third day at school and we know there's plenty more to come.”

Thursday, York, Britain
BETFRED DANTE S.-G2, £160,000, YOR, 5-12, 3yo, 10f 88yT, 2:07.37, g/f.
1–#@WINGS OF DESIRE (GB), 126, c, 3, by Pivotal (GB)
1st Dam: Gull Wing (Ire) (SW-Eng, $101,549), by In the Wings (GB)
2nd Dam: Maycocks Bay (GB), by Muhtarram
3rd Dam: Beacon (GB), by High Top (Ire)
O/B-Lady Bamford (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £90,736. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $136,913. *Full to Eagle Top (GB), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $791,413; and The Lark (GB), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $173,765. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Deauville (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Walklikeanegyptian (Ire), by Danehill. O-Mrs F Hay/M Tabor/Mrs J Magnier/D Smith; B-Mrs Fitri Hay (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £34,400.
3–Foundation (Ire), 126, c, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Roystonea (GB), by Polish Precedent. (€55,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; €190,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Wellington); B-Eyrefield Lodge Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden. £17,216.
Margins: NK, 1HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 9.00, 6.50, 6.50.
Also Ran: Muntazah (GB), Midterm (GB), Victory Bond (GB), Choreographer (Ire), Harrison (GB), Black Sea (Ire), Kentuckyconnection, Sea of Flames (GB), Top Beak (Ire).
Wings of Desire started as the owner-breeder's second string on debut in a 10-furlong maiden at Newmarket's Craven meeting Apr. 13, but whereas Satish (GB) (Dansili {GB}) flopped as the hot favourite his stablemate showed distinct promise when third under Robert Havlin. At one point at Wolverhampton last time, the chestnut had looked in trouble but when the stamina that is so inherent in his breeding kicked in he was firmly on top for the ultimate confidence boost. Surprisingly, Frankie had ditched last year's G2 Royal Lodge S. winner and G1 Racing Post Trophy third Foundation for him which spoke volumes of the way he had turned himself around since his maiden win and that proved a smart move after the homebred had overcome a wide trip and more experienced rivals here. Languishing at the tail of the field throughout the early stages as Sea of Flames (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}) led the way at a sound clip, Wings of Desire was sent around the entire field and was one of a number in contention as Deauville was sent past the long-time leader with over two furlongs remaining. Scampering after the main Ballydoyle protagonist, he got to him in the last half-furlong and there was very little use of the whip from Dettori as he asserted close home. Wings of Desire needs to be supplemented for the G1 Epsom Derby June 4, but trainer John Gosden is keen to commit to the blue riband. “This horse is still learning. He's gone from a maiden to Wolverhampton to here and didn't do a half-speed piece of work until the middle of March,” he explained. “We'll take him to Epsom to let him have a feel of the hill, as he's still very much a baby. He's freakish–he showed me things early on that made me think “goodness”, but he's so laid-back and his favourite two activities are eating and sleeping. I took him out of the Derby in March, as I thought he was for the King Edward VII, like his brother. That was my plan then and it has obviously changed, because he showed so much in his maiden first time and when I took him to Wolverhampton he went round the bends and learnt a lot. He tried to go out of three gates and back to the stables there, but has come here and won a Dante. There's a lot of improvement in him and, all being well, he'll go to Epsom. For a horse like this to come from no education in a sense as a two-year-old, to come and win a Dante is pretty special. He stays well and let's hope inexperience doesn't undo him around Epsom. There's no reason not to go.” Of Foundation, who was caught in a pocket halfway up the straight partly by the winner before running on solidly, Gosden added, “He got boxed in, got out late and William [Buick] got off him and said that's his trip, so we are clear about him. We've always known he's a [G1] Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly June 5] horse and that's the plan for him. We're very happy with him, as he got rolling late.” Aidan O'Brien is still piecing the Derby puzzle together from Rosegreen after some interesting trials and said of Deauville, “We are very happy with his run and this was his first of the year. We've been very happy with the way they've all run in their trials and so we are delighted with where we are. Deauville likes good ground and is a very good mover. His only bad run was in the Racing Post Trophy which came at the end of the year on very bad ground.” Disappointment of the race was the 5-4 favourite Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was too fresh early and unable to land a blow when it mattered. Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Andullah, said of the fifth-placed colt. “It was a bit disappointing, to say the least. He never seemed to be happy and was never in a rhythm like he was at Sandown. It all seemed so easy for him that day, so it's hard to put a finger on what the difference was. We'll see how he is when he gets home, but at the moment you would have to say that there is plenty to think about. He was a bit coltish and it was only his third run and he has got a bit to learn. The only thing is, it all comes a bit quick.” Jockey Pat Smullen added, “He was a little bit immature and babyish early in the run–he was a bit sluggish out of the gates and then a little bit keen early, but they were going a good pace so I was quite happy to take back and get him to switch off and relax. When we straightened up, I got on Frankie's tail but wasn't able to go with him. Obviously, connections will make a decision but I think everything is happening a bit quick for him at the moment and he's a horse for maybe later in the year. His immaturity showed today, but he's a good horse, there's no question. Overall, you'd have to be a bit disappointed with a couple of weeks' time in mind. He'd have to improve on that and I'm sure he will, but his immaturity and lack of experience showed today.” Wings of Desire has serious Epsom pedigree, as his smart dam Gull Wing is a half-sister to the emphatic 2009 Oaks heroine Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who went on to be even more impressive in the Irish equivalent. Gull Wing has already established herself as a broodmare of considerable stature, with her first foal being the G2 Park Hill S., or Fillies' St Leger, winner and Epsom Oaks third The Lark (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and then the aforementioned Eagle Top. She has a 2-year-old colt by Oasis Dream (GB) and another foal son of Pivotal to come. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.