By Tom Frary
With So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) missing again, this renewal lost some lustre and it was up to an improver in Autocratic to benefit from a real opportunity at this level. His career has been crafted by the master of patience Sir Michael Stoute, who unsurprisingly holds the record of eight successes and now nine in this race which often acts as a stepping stone for progressive older types like Stagecraft (GB), Opera House (GB), Pilsudski (Ire) and Notnowcato (GB). Taking four starts to break his maiden but doing so over this course and distance on similarly fast ground last June, the bay was kept to handicap company for the remainder of his 3-year-old season and followed a second in a Newmarket handicap at the July meeting with a disappointing 11th at Newbury in September. Bouncing back with a success at York in October, he had shown little when sixth of seven on his return in the G3 Earl of Sefton S. over nine furlongs on Newmarket's Rowley Mile Apr. 19.
Held up in fifth early by Ryan Moore as Chain of Daisies (GB) (Rail Link {GB}) set the pace, Autocratic was muscled out of a pocket inside the final quarter mile as the Earl of Sefton winner Steel of Madrid threatened up ahead. Reeling in that rival once into the clear, the homebred asserted from 150 yards out as Algometer stayed on strongly on his outer. “He is an impressive-looking horse and we have always had confidence in him, especially Sir Michael Stoute,” explained Cheveley Park Stud's racing manager Chris Richardson. “Things just didn't go his way last term, but tonight looked an impressive performance and it was a great ride by Ryan Moore. He is a big, burly horse so he would have needed his first run. To be honest, I would have been happy if he had finished in the first three. As a yearling he dislocated his shoulder, as normally we offer all our colts at the sales. He came back and spent time out recovering from the injury. It is great to see a performance like that and it makes him rather exciting now. We were taking it step by step after he disappointed last time.”
Autocratic is a half-brother to the same stable's G3 Horris Hill S.-winning sire Evasive (GB), who was also sixth in the G1 2000 Guineas and fourth in the G1 St James's Palace S. and is doing well from his Haras de Grandcamp base. He hails from the same Niarchos family as Sunday's Listed Coolmore Stud Sprint S. winner Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), with his second dam being the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine East of the Moon who also threw the G3 Prix d'Arenberg scorer Moon Driver (Mr. Prospector). Canda also has a 2-year-old full-brother to the winner.
Thursday, Sandown, Britain
MATCHBOOK BRIGADIER GERARD S.-G3, £65,000, SAN, 5-25, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:07.10, g/f.
1–#@AUTOCRATIC (GB), 126, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Canda (MSP-Fr), by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: East of the Moon, by Private Account
3rd Dam: Miesque, by Nureyev
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore. £36,862. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-0, $102,125. *1/2 to Evasive (GB) (Elusive Quality), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Algometer (GB), 129, c, 4, Archipenko–Albanova (GB), by Alzao. (140,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-David Simcock. £13,975.
3–Steel of Madrid (Ire), 129, c, 4, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Bibury (GB), by Royal Applause (GB). (120,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Michael Pescod; B-Jeddah Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £6,994.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 1HF. Odds: 8.00, 4.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mondialiste (Ire), Red Verdon, Chain of Daisies (GB), Baydar (GB). Scratched: So Mi Dar (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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