By Sean Cronin
Blond Me, who ran 10th of 11 in October's G1 Premio Lydia Tesio after annexing Turkey's G2 International Topkapi Trophy in September, was let go as the outsider of four in this contest shorn of likely market leader So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), but made a mockery of her 11-1 odds with a gutsy display on the Knavesmire. Racing under a firm grip in third from the outset as The Black Princess enjoyed a soft lead on the front end, she inched ever closer in the straight and kept on resolutely under a final-quarter drive to deny that rival for a fourth black-type score nearing the line. South African MG1SW Smart Call ran on well on to finish a close-up third in her first start for the Sir Michael Stoute team. “She's been in super order at home and, although the [soft] ground was a concern, fair play to Andrew [Balding] and her owner Mrs [Barbara] Keller for taking the chance of running her and it's paid dividends,” said winning rider Oisin Murphy. “You'd think she wants fast ground, judging by her action and the way she moves at home, but maybe she's improved and, hopefully, can build on it.”
Kin to the 2-year-old colt White Turf (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), Blond Me is the leading performer produced by Holda (Ire) (Docksider), who is a winning half-sister to G1 MacKinnon S. hero Glass Harmonium (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) and G3 September S. and G3 John Porter S. victor Arab Spring (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). Her third dam Well Head (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who produced MG1SW US champion Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), is a half-sister to G1 Champion S. and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Spectrum (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) and to the dam of MG1SW European champion distaffer Petrushka (Ire) (Unfuwain).
Thursday, York, Britain
BETFRED MIDDLETON S.-G2, £125,000, YOR, 5-18, 4yo/up, f/m, 10f 56yT, 2:09.76, sf.
1–BLOND ME (IRE), 126, m, 5, by Tamayuz (GB)
1st Dam: Holda (Ire), by Docksider
2nd Dam: Spring Symphony (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Well Head (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
(65,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Mrs Barbara M Keller; B-Wardstown Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £70,888. Lifetime Record: GSW-Tur & GSP-US, 14-5-4-0, $608,579. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Black Princess (Fr), 126, f, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–Larceny (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€170,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-R J H Geffen; B-Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-John Gosden. £26,875.
3–Smart Call (SAf), 129, m, 6, Ideal World–Good Judgement, by Horse Chestnut (SAf). O-Miss Jessica Slack; B-Mauritzfontein Stud (SAF); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £13,450.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 11.00, 1.35, 5.00.
Also Ran: Queen's Trust (GB). Scratched: Chain of Daisies (GB), So Mi Dar (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
