HOME OF THE BRAVE
The aptly named Brave Anna (War Front), who bettered a debut eighth behind 'TDN Rising Star' Roly Poly (War Front) at Naas by graduating in style upped to six furlongs at The Curragh last month, entered Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. as the Aidan O'Brien second string, but exited the six-furlong test very much number one after grinding out a determined win. Missing a beat at the kick and subsequently positioned in rear, the 16-1 chance powered into contention approaching the final quarter mile and refused to buckle under a continued drive in the closing stages to assert for a game short-head success from Bletchley (GB) (Makfi {GB}), with Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}) a half length further back in third. “She's a lovely filly and came here on the back of a good win at The Curragh,” insisted rider Seamus Heffernan, after registering his third Royal win. “Aidan [O'Brien] told me to give her every chance to run well and finish the race out, and that's what she did. It's nice to pitch up here and ride a winner for [owner-breeder] Mrs [Evie] Stockwell as she's an important lady in the team.”
Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ALBANY S.-G3, £80,000, ASC, 6-17, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:15.20, g/s.
1–#@BRAVE ANNA, 126, f, 2, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)">War Front
1st Dam: Liscanna (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $118,164), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Lahinch (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dublah, by Private Account
O/B-Mrs E. M. Stockwell (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamie Heffernan. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $75,826. *Full to Hit It A Bomb, G1SW-US & SW-Ire, $599,967. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]2–Bletchley (GB), 126, f, 2, Makfi (GB)–An Ghalanta (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). O-Qatar Racing Limited; B-Qatar Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £17,200.
3–Queen Kindly (GB), 126, f, 2, Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)–Lady of the Desert, by Rahy. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Richard A. Fahey. £8,608.
Margins: HD, HF, HF. Odds: 16.00, 16.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Create a Dream, Cuff (Ire), Kilmah (GB), Dainty Dandy (Ire), Melesina (Ire), Sea of Snow, High On Love (Ire), Oh Grace (Ire), Cheval Blanche, Grizzel (Ire), Perfect Madge (Ire), Spin Doctor (GB), Romantic View (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Brave Anna caught a tartar when running into the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of stablemate Roly Poly (War Front) going five furlongs at Naas on debut Apr. 25, and improved to shed maiden status in taking fashion when tackling six panels at The Curragh in her only other start last time May 21. “She works like a good filly, but I thought she'd improve going up to seven furlongs and we nearly left her at home,” admitted Aidan O'Brien. “[Owner-breeder] Mrs [Evie] Stockwell told us to let her take her chance and that's why we're here. She is brave, but she'll be better when stepped up to seven furlongs and Seamie gave her a fantastic ride. She did the same at The Curragh where she was the second string and defeated a more-fancied runner of ours [How]. One mile should be no problem and she could be a [G1 1000] Guineas filly as she's a big filly who is developing all the time.”
Trainer Ralph Beckett bemoaned runner-up Bletchley's performance from the gates and said, “She lacked, as [jockey] Oisin [Murphy] put it, gate speed. It was a lack of experience and she just wasn't street-wise enough early.”
Fellow conditioner Richard Fahey claimed third placegetter Queen Kindly, who earned freshman sire Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) a first taste of black type, was also hostage to fortune, citing track conditions and inexperience as negative factors in the homebred chestnut's defeat. “She was ready to come to Ascot and entitled to come here. There will be better days in her and it was only her second race. She's pure speed and wasn't comfortable on the ground. It's tacky and on a better surface you'll see a better filly.”
Brave Anna is a full-sister to last term's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Hit it a Bomb, GISW-US & MSW-Ire, $599,967, with the pair being out of G3 Ballyogan S. victress Liscanna (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who also has a yearling colt and a colt foal by War Front. Liscanna's dam is stakes-winning G2 Rockfel S. second Lahinch (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who is also the dam of the Group 3 scorer The Bogberry (Hawk Wing). The next dam, Dublah (Private Account), is a granddaughter of the dual group-winning and stakes-producing Paint the Town (Vaguely Noble {Ire}).
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