May 16, 2019 - YORK, Race 6, Msw, GBP £20,000, 6.0F, 16.35
1st Dam: Pleasantry (GB)
2st Dam: Zenda (GB)
2st Dam: Hope (Ire)
Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
Breeder: Wansdyke Farms Ltd & J. M. Burke
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Invincible Spirit (Ire) is enjoying one of those formidable spells at present and the Irish National Stud’s highly-influential stalwart was responsible for another highlight during York’s Dante meeting as his 2-year-old colt Repartee (Ire) earned TDN Rising Star status in the Stratford Place Stud Breeds Group Winners ebfstallions.com Maiden S. Arriving on the Knavesmire with some confidence behind him, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s newcomer was representing the Kevin Ryan stable which has unleashed many of its leading lights here in recent times. The manner in which Repartee went through this six-furlong debut suggests it is possible that he can emulate the likes of the yard’s The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Hot Streak (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Astaire (GB) (Intense Focus) who all scored on their racecourse introduction over this track and trip before going on to big things.
Smartly away under Andrea Atzeni and always tanking on his own in a marginal lead, the February-foaled bay was still travelling strongly as his peers began to show distress signals approaching the last furlong. Piling it on with a rare aggression for a newcomer, the 9-2 shot hit the line strong with five lengths to spare over Forbidden Land (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). Ballydoyle opted to withdraw Hong Kong (American Pharoah), the $1million KEEJAN graduate, but on the basis of this performance that half-brother to Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) would need to possess above-average ability to have made a competition of this.
Ryan is expecting a lot more from the winner and said, “He’s always been very talented. He’s still a little bit immature, but he was very professional today. He’ll improve massively and when I was speaking to Andrea he was shocked when I told him he’d won by five lengths. I’ll speak to the owner about Royal Ascot and see how he comes out of the race, but it’s not all about Ascot.â€
Repartee is the fourth foal and third runner out of the unraced Pleasantry (GB) (Johannesburg), with his 4-year-old full-sister Parlance (Ire) having cost Cheveley Park Stud 450,000gns before winning a maiden for Sir Michael Stoute and his 3-year-old half-brother Fajjaj (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) finishing second in last year’s G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas). The dam, who was a 80,000gns Juddmonte cast-off purchased by Cormac McCormack Bloodstock at the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, is a half-sister to none other than Kingman (GB), the brilliant miler and best progeny of Invincible Spirit who is already excelling in his own stud career.
The second dam Zenda (GB) (Zamindar) led by example by winning the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches which was followed by Kingman taking his own Guineas in Ireland, while her other John Gosden-trained sons Remote (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and First Eleven (GB) (Frankel {GB})—who took this meeting’s opening handicap on Wednesday—have done their bit by proving themselves group-class. One of the world’s most celebrated families, it features the powerhouse Oasis Dream (GB) and Classic winners Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave) and New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), as well as the former’s high-class son and sire Beat Hollow (GB). Pleasantry’s yearling is a full-sister to the winner.
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