Acclamation's Aclaim Wins the Park

Since he was upped from six furlongs to win an Ascot mile handicap in early September last year, Aclaim has proven himself to be a solid pattern-race campaigner especially over this trip at which he captured the G2 Challenge S. at Newmarket in October. Sixth in the G1 Lockinge S. back at a mile at Newbury on his return May 20, the bay reverted to six for the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and put up another taking effort when eighth after meeting trouble in that June 24 Royal Ascot feature. Again denied a clear passage when sixth but beaten under two lengths in total in Glorious Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. returning to this trip at the start of August, he was next seen powering home behind Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) when runner-up in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville Aug. 6.

Oisin Murphy was initially reserved on Aclaim before Home of the Brave drew him forward like a magnet as the Godolphin runner stuck to the centre of the track. Denied a run between that rival and Spirit of Valor (War Front), the bay had to switch around but there was ample time to reel in the filly Nathra and he duly took command 100 yards from the line and stayed on strongly from there. “I got a lovely tow into the race from Home of the Brave and wanted to stay following something for as long as I could,” his rider explained. “It got a bit tight, but when you are on a class horse I'd rather stay in there than waste ground coming out wide. He's the best horse in the race and was entitled to win as he did.”

Trainer Martyn Meade is looking at a return to France for the Oct. 1 G1 Prix de la Foret at Chantilly. “He's just going the right way now. It was a shame he didn't win in France, in another few strides he probably would have done. We've got to look for a group one now and he'll go to the Foret next, seven furlongs is his trip and softer ground is no issue. That was pretty impressive today, you can ride him anywhere.”

Aclaim's dam Aris, who was third in the Listed Flame of Tara S. over a mile, is a half-sister to the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Again (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who is the dam of the recent G3 Golden Fleece S. third Delano Roosevelt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The second dam Cumbres, who also produced the G3 Give Thanks S. third Arkadina (Ire) (Danehill), is out of the famed Floripedes who captured the G3 Prix de Lutece and was runner-up in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak before producing the unforgettable champion Montjeu (Ire). She is also the ancestress of last year's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's palace S. hero Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and the dual group 1-winning sprinter Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Aris also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Dawn Approach (Ire) named Accept (Ire) and a yearling filly by Slade Power (Ire).

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
ALAN WOOD PLUMBING & HEATING PARK S.-G2, £100,000, DON, 9-16, 3yo/up, 7f 6yT, 1:25.59, g/s.
1–ACLAIM (IRE), 130, c, 4, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Aris (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Danroad (Aus)
2nd Dam: Cumbres (Fr), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Floripedes, by Top Ville (Ire)
(€130,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Canning Downs & Partner; B-D Farrington & Canning Downs (IRE); T-Martyn Meade; J-Oisin Murphy. £56,710. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 14-6-1-1, £294,802. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nathra (Ire), 127, f, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–Rada (Ire), by Danehill. (270,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden. £21,500.
3–Home of the Brave (Ire), 130, h, 5, Starspangledbanner (Aus)">Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Blissful Beat (GB), by Beat Hollow (GB). (€80,000 Ylg '13 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie du Grand Chene (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £10,760.
Margins: 3/4, 1, SHD. Odds: 3.00, 6.50, 2.25.
Also Ran: Spirit of Valor, Breton Rock (Ire), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Viscount Barfield (GB), Peace Envoy (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.