By Tom Frary
Gestut Ammerland's homebred Sevenna Star (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) had hardly had a race when opening his account by 14 lengths at Windsor Apr. 16, but it was hard graft that won the day as he justified 15-8 favouritism in Friday's G3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown. Signing off his juvenile campaign with a third placing behind this card's Esher Cup winner Merlin Magic (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in an extended mile maiden at Nottingham in October, the bay was the subject of strong support to build on his Windsor romp in this race that John Gosden has farmed down the years. Sitting third early behind Chilean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), he was driven to get to the latter in the final 50 yards and deny another Charlie Appleby success by a short head to provide his trainer with a ninth edition of this Derby prep.
Gosden is keen to stay on the road to the June 2 G1 Epsom Derby and said, “He is a big horse, as you can see, and he is still learning. He didn't really see anyone around Windsor last time. He did a nice piece of work around there. It was a good race. The second, third and fourth are good horses. It was a quality trial. You needed to see out the mile and a quarter in these conditions and Frankie said he was a little dreamy early on, learning about the game, and he was only getting the hang of it the last part. We could possibly have another trial, we will see, but why not. We will see how we want to play it.” Dettori added, “It took a furlong and a half to get into top gear. Once I got upsides William [Buick on Ispolini], I knew my horse would do his very best at the end. It is the first time he has had a proper race. Last time he won at a canter. He is learning all the time and you will see his very best over a mile and a half.”
Sevenna Star is the fourth black-type winner produced by the owner-breeder's G3 Lillie Langtry S. scorer Sevenna (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), with his most notable half-sibling being the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Savanne (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). A half-sister to the G2 Schwarzgold-Rennen heroine Scatina (Ire) (Samum {Ger}), the dam descends from the G3 German 1000 Guineas and G2 Preis der Diana heroine Slenderella (Ger) (Alpenkonig {Ger}). Her 2-year-old filly is by Lope de Vega (Ire).
Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 CLASSIC TRIAL-G3, £70,000, SAN, 4-27, 3yo, 9f 209yT, 2:14.13, g/s.
1–SEVENNA STAR (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
1st Dam: Sevenna (Fr) (GSW-Eng), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Silvassa (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Slenderella (Ger), by Alpenkonig (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Gestut Ammerland; B-Ammerland Verwaltung GmbH & Co KG (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $63,411. *1/2 to Savanne (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $139,572; Sassella (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), SW-Fr; and Samurai (Ire) (Shamardal), SW-Swi. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ispolini (GB), 127, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Giants Play, by Giant's Causeway. (1,200,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £15,050.
3–Hunting Horn (Ire), 127, c, 3, Camelot (GB)">Camelot (GB)–Mora Bai (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £7,532.
Margins: NO, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.85, 4.50, 7.00.
Also Ran: Chilean (GB), Sovereign Duke (Ger), Wafy (Ire), Come On Tier (Fr). Scratched: Jetstream (Ire), Stephensons Rocket (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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