By Tom Frary
Seamie Heffernan is lethal on the lead, as he has proven on more than one occasion on the likes of Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and on another accomplished son of Galileo in Cape Blanco (Ire) at this track's feature G1 Irish Champion S. in 2010. Once again, he was able to grab an early advantage which put his mount Spanish Steps in a commanding position before allowing him to level out. As stablemate Johannes Vermeer began to whittle away at his margin in the straight, the bay was able to find more and reward a perfectly-judged ride. This was a marked move forward for the winner, who had got off the mark at the fourth attempt by 10 lengths over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park June 25 before finishing last of nine in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud July 14.
Aidan O'Brien is looking at a quick return to the races for Spanish Steps and said, “We always liked him and felt he would be comfortable at a mile and a half. We always thought he would be comfortable on nice ground. We were going to go to Goodwood and then the ground changed. He's a bit green and babyish, but is a good colt. Seamie was happy to go along and we would see if Johannes Vermeer was able to pick him up. He was getting a lot of weight. Seamie gave him a very good ride. He was left alone in front and was gone turning in. He could go for the [G2 Great] Voltigeur [S. Aug. 23] next at York. Johannes Vermeer could go down to Australia for a race there.”
The winner is the first foal out of Turbulent Descent, who remarkably won the GI Ballerina S., GI Hollywood Starlet S., GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Test S. as well as the GII Beaumont S. and finished runner-up in the GI Acorn S. and GI Las Virgenes S. for Mike Puype and Todd Pletcher. Led out unsold in foal to War Front at $2.45million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale in 2014, she produced a filly by that sire who is now two and also has a yearling full-brother to Spanish Steps. Like fellow top-level winning distaffers Music Show (Ire) (Noverre) and Swift Temper (Giant's Causeway), she is descended from the GI Vanity Invitational H., GI Ashland S. and GI Hollywood Oaks heroine Gorgeous (Slew o' Gold).
Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
GRENKE FINANCE BALLYROAN S.-G3, €63,000, LEO, 8-10, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:37.87, gd.
1–SPANISH STEPS (IRE), 124, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Turbulent Descent (MGISW-US, $1,211,640), by Congrats
2nd Dam: Roger's Sue, by Forestry
3rd Dam: Fabulous, by Seeking the Gold
*1st stakes win. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Stamar, Zaki Holdings & Meditsoi (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €37,170. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-1, $56,331. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Johannes Vermeer (Ire), 137, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Inca Princess (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). (€300,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Tabor, Magnier, Smith, China Horse Club & L Williams; B-Desert Star Phoenix JVC (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €11,970.
3–Stellar Mass (Ire), 134, c, 4, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Juno Marlowe (Ire), by Danehill. (280,000gns Wlg '13 TATFOA). O-Mrs June Judd; B-Tinnakill House & Alan Byrne (IRE); T-Jim Bolger. €5,670.
Margins: HF, 2HF, 1HF. Odds: 6.00, 0.80, 8.00.
Also Ran: The Grey Gatsby (Ire), Santa Monica (GB), Grandee (Ire). Scratched: Act of Valour (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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