By Tom Frary
This has always been an influential Classic trial, with the likes of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Indian Skimmer (Storm Bird) winning in 1987 and more recently Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) successful before going on to G1 Epsom Oaks glory. It has also been won by the 1992 G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up All At Sea (Riverman) and other Oaks-placed fillies Wind in Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao), Midnight Line (Kris S.) and Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra). If Shadwell's Maqsad is to occupy the same territory, this will be the race that can be looked upon as her official unveiling such was the ease with which she dealt with her contemporaries. Having to battle to open her account in a mile maiden at the Craven meeting here last time Apr. 16, the bay who cost €775,000 as a Goffs November Foal was waited with towards rear travelling a touch keenly. Sent forward by Jim Crowley to take command with comfort approaching the two-furlong marker, she extended clear from the G1 Fillies' Mile fourth Shambolic without turning a hair.
Trainer William Haggas was not being drawn into a tilt at the Epsom Classic afterwards. “I was impressed with her–she travelled well and settled well and appeared better at the trip,” he commented. “She's got a bit of speed and lots of stamina on the dam's side. She is in the [G1 Prix] Saint-Alary [at ParisLongchamp May 26], the French Oaks [the June 16 G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly] and the [May 31 G1] Epsom Oaks, so she has lots of options. I'm not sure it was the strongest renewal of this race, but she won easily and when Jim [Crowley] went to go he was surprised how easily he got there. He said the pace collapsed at the two. She ran a beautiful race here first time and then was beaten easily at Yarmouth, so I was rather deflated after that but racing is a strange game.”
If connections opt to go the Indian Skimmer route and take in the Diane, there is a family precedent for success as Maqsad is a granddaughter of the 2001 heroine of that Chantilly Classic in Aquarelliste. The dam, who was sold for €975,000 to Peter Brant's White Birch Farm at the 2016 Goffs November Mares Sale as part of the Wildenstein bloodstock dispersal, was placed twice at listed level between the Diane trip of 10 1/2 furlongs and 14 1/2 furlongs. Amerique is a half to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Ame Bleue (GB) (Dubawi {Ire} and the G3 Prix Minerve runner-up Artiste Divine (GB) (Peintre Celebre), with her dam Aquarelliste also taking the G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix Ganay and finishing second in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The third dam Agathe, who captured the G3 Prix de Psyche, was second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and third in the Diane, also produced the GI Charles Whittingham Memorial H. winner Artiste Royal (Ire) to another mating with Aquarelliste's sire Danehill. She is a half to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}), whose full-sister Afrique Bleu Azur was responsible for the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cape Verdi (Ire) (Caerleon). Amerique also has a 2-year-old colt by Pivotal (GB) named Urs Fischer (Ire) and a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire) named Black Sand (GB).
Sunday, Newmarket, Britain
TWEENHILLS PRETTY POLLY S.-Listed, £50,000, Newmarket, 5-5, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:05.23, gd.
1–MAQSAD (FR), 126, f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Amerique (Ire) (MSP-Fr), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Aquarelliste (Fr), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Agathe, by Manila
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€775,000 Wlg '16 GOFNOV). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (FR); T-William Haggas; J-Jim Crowley. £28,355. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $49,258.
2–Shambolic (Ire), 126, f, 3, Shamardal–Comic (Ire), by Be My Chief. O-Duke of Devonshire & Duke of Roxburghe. £10,750.
3–I'll Have Another (Ire), 129, f, 3, Dragon Pulse (Ire)–Jessie Jane (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). (£32,000 Ylg '17 GOUKPR). O-Paul & Clare Rooney. £5,380.
Margins: 5, 4, 11. Odds: 1.25, 4.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Lady Adelaide (Ire), Mona Lisa's Smile, Shagalla (GB), Clematis. Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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