Royal Lodge Victory For Zoffany’s Foundation

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE S.-G2, £100,000, NEW, 9-26, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:38.04, gd.
1–@FOUNDATION (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Zoffany (Ire)
1st Dam: Roystonea (GB) (SP-Fr), by Polish Precedent
2nd Dam: Alleluia Tree (Ire), by Royal Academy
3rd Dam: Thistlewood (Ire), by Kalamoun (GB)
(€55,000 Wlg ‘13 GOFNOV; €190,000 Ylg ‘14
GOFORB). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing
(Wellington); B-Eyrefield Lodge Stud (IRE); T-John
Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record:
3-3-0-0, $113,045. *3rd group winner for freshman
sire (by Dansili {GB}). Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

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2–Deauville (Ire), 126, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)—
Walklikeanegyptian (Ire), by Danehill. O-Fitri Hay,
Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier & Derrick Smith;
B-Mrs Fitri Hay (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £21,500.
3–Muntazah (GB), 126, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Rumoush,
by Rahy. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum;
B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Barry Hills.
£10,760.
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.25, 1.35, 10.00.
Also Ran: Humphrey Bogart (Ire), Beast Mode (Ire), Sixth Sense (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Impressive despite slow breaks on his first two starts over this trip at Haydock, Foundation was much more the professional article as he turned back better-class opponents in this time-honored test of juvenile status to maintain his unbeaten sequence. Off the mark in comprehensive style despite gifting his rivals a head start on debut Aug. 7, the chestnut was also playing catch-up when following up in even more convincing fashion in the Listed Ascendant S. back there last time Sept. 5, but hit the gates with purpose this time. Restrained by Frankie Dettori to race in fourth with Deauville on his outer, he was traveling notably better than his main market rival at halfway and made smooth progress to pass Muntazah and hit the front at the quarter pole. Clear a furlong later, Foundation appeared to idle and give Ballydoyle’s representative hope, but as soon as he sensed that rival he gave extra to hold him at bay. “John and his team were very confident with how he had worked coming into this,” Highclere’s racing manager Harry Herbert commented. “Frankie said he is learning still, but was much better today and we head to the G1 Racing Post Trophy [at Doncaster Oct. 24] next. This is the first time he has been in a race, as his natural ability had taken him through his first two races. He hits the ground a little bit hard, so we wouldn’t risk him on fast ground this year, but when he’s a fully mature horse there would be less concern on that score.” Herbert hinted the mile Classics could be on the agenda next year. “The 2000 Guineas has to be the race to aim at, as he has plenty of speed and pedigree-wise there is a big question mark about the Derby,” he said. “He is so relaxed and goes through the motions so easily, so perhaps he could stretch out beyond a mile and a quarter next year.” Dettori added, “He had to go through a gap and hit the front plenty early enough and thought he’d done enough, so it was a good learning curve for him. He’s got a bright future and a mile is a minimum.”

Alex Cole, racing manager for Deauville’s part-owner Fitri Hay, said of the runner-up, “He’s a lovely horse that needs further and we are just looking forward to next year with him. The faster the ground the better for the horse.”

Foundation becomes the third group winner for Europe’s leading first-season sire Zoffany after his Royal Ascot-winning duo Illuminate (Ire) and Waterloo Bridge (Ire). Foundation has a handful of talented marathoners in his extended pedigree, including G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Ardross (Ire) (Run the Gantlet) and G1 St Leger scorer Scorpion (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) under his third dam. Foundation’s dam, Roystonea, has a yearling filly by Canford Cliffs (Ire) and a colt foal by Iffraaj (GB).