By Sean Cronin
1st-Newmarket, £8,000, Cond, 11-2, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:28.10, sf.
BATTLE FOR GLORY (c, 2, War Front">War Front–Immortal Verse {Ire} {Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, $1,053,873}, by Pivotal {GB}) was well away and led until headed with a half mile to go in this debut. Scrubbed along passing the three-furlong pole, the 16-1 chance was angled off the fence for a clear run at the foot of the hill and kept on strongly under a tender drive up the climb to prevail by nose from Real Smooth (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). “He was a bit green and only started to race when I pulled him out and he really battled well in the closing stages,” said winning rider Kieran O'Niell. “It's soft ground, but he's out of a Pivotal mare and that probably helped. He's not overly big and will be better on better ground so is one to look forward to next year.” The February-foaled bay becomes the first winner produced by G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was knocked down for 4.7-million gns at Tattersalls' 2013 December Mares Sale, and he is full-brother to a yearling colt. Immortal Verse is out of stakes-winning G3 Prix Fille de l'Air runner-up Side of Paradise (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who in turn is kin to six black-type performers headed by MG1SW sire Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best) and MGSW sire Astronef (Ire) (Be My Guest). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,730. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Merribelle Stable; B-Merriebelle Stables (KY); T-John Gosden.
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