By Tom Frary
Benefitting from a pace that ultimately proved too strong, Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi's Arctic Sound (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}) was able to overcame a slow start and come home best in Thursday's G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket. Having bounced back from a first flop when last of six in the Aug. 24 Listed Stonehenge S. over a mile at Salisbury to score under top weight in a seven-furlong Doncaster nursery last time Sept. 12, the 5-1 shot suffered from unwanted technical issues as he missed the break and was forced to race in rear early. Gradually coaxed into the contest by Silvestre De Sousa, the bay had to angle widest of all running towards the “dip” but stayed on strongly coming out of it to overhaul Bye Bye Hong Kong (Street Sense) in the last 100 yards and score by a length, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Prince Eiji (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third. “He ran really well last time, but that was a bit of a recovery mission after his disappointment at Salisbury so weren't absolutely sure what to expect,” trainer Mark Johnston said. “This was us trying to get back on track at pattern level and he's seen it out well. Silvestre said his blind got stuck on his bridle which is why he was slow away, but he was struggling to go that pace early on anyway. They've obviously gone very fast early on and have been slowing up at the finish, but it's still an impressive performance.”
Arctic Sound came off second best to the subsequently unbeaten More Than This (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) on his debut over this trip at Haydock June 23 before going one better at Sandown July 6 and following up by seven lengths under a penalty over slightly further at Beverley at the end of that month. Taking a major backward step when ridden forcefully in the Stonehenge, he appreciated the change to hold-up tactics at Doncaster next time and due to circumstances was also made to come from behind on this occasion. With the G2 Champagne S. third Cardini (Magician {Ire}) unable to maintain his exacting tempo beyond the furlong pole, this fell into the lap of the closers with Prince Eiji emerging with credit having been close to the pace thrououghout. “We'll have to go back and see what there is for him and while I'm a huge believer of running if a horse is thriving, he has experience now so he could be put away for the winter,” Johnston continued. “From what we've seen today, he's going to want every inch of a mile next year and probably further. It's a question of whether we go for those early mile races or wait until May for the mile-and-a-quarter races, so I'll talk to the owner, who is a new owner for us this year. He might be more one for the Dante over 10 furlongs.”
Arctic Sound is the third runner and winner out of the Listed Empress S. scorer Polar Circle (Royal Academy), one of four to prevail in black-type company for the G3 Debutante S. winner Polar Bird (Ire) (Thatching {Ire}). They include the G2 Prix Robert Papin scorer Ocean Ridge (Storm Bird) who was also runner-up in the G1 Coronation S., G2 Falmouth S. and G2 Cherry Hinton S. Polar Circle's yearling filly is by Bated Breath (GB), while her filly foal is by Nathaniel (Ire).
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
TATTERSALLS S. (SOMERVILLE TATTERSALL S.)-G3, £50,000, Newmarket, 9-27, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:23.38, gd.
1–ARCTIC SOUND (GB), 126, c, 2, by Poet's Voice (GB)
1st Dam: Polar Circle (SW-Eng), by Royal Academy
2nd Dam: Polar Bird (Ire), by Thatching (Ire)
3rd Dam: Arctic Winter, by Briartic
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (36,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Saeed bin Mohammed Al Qassimi; B-Lofts Hall Stud & B Sangster (GB); T-Mark Johnston; J-Silvestre de Sousa. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, $69,616. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bye Bye Hong Kong, 126, c, 2, Street Sense">Street Sense–Light and Variable, by Tiznow. ($70,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP; 575,000gns 2yo '18 TATBRE). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Andrew Balding. £10,750.
3–Prince Eiji (GB), 126, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Izzi Top (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (2,600,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Roger Varian. £5,380.
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 5.00, 4.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Dunkerron (GB), Cardini, Floating Artist (GB), You Never Can Tell (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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