Held in the highest esteem for a while by Andre Fabre, Godolphin's Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) proved the master of Chantilly right once again as she turned Wednesday's competitive-looking G2 Duke of Cambridge S. into her own Royal Ascot procession. Kept away from this kind of testing ground so far, the homebred went into the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August off two conditions wins and it all proved too much for her when seventh but after being packed up for the year and brought back with two more conditions wins on the Polytrack at Deauville Mar. 8 and at Chantilly Apr. 4 she was ready for the G2 Dahlia S. So impressive in that nine-furlong Newmarket contest at the start of last month, she had been targeted at this ever since and stayed in even after the expected fast ground disappeared in the lead-up.
Out fast and a touch keen in front of her group before being reined back by Mickael Barzalona to sit in mid-division, the 9-4 favourite made smooth progress to take closer order when the slightest command was given passing the three-furlong pole. Shaken up to take control a furlong later, Usherette was quickly out of reach and able to coast to the line to register a bloodless 2 1/4-length success from Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland), who held off another Godolphin filly in Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) for third by a short head.
“I think she is a top-class filly who deserves to win a Group 1 now,” her jockey said after steering his first Royal winner. “She travelled well and picked up nicely even though the ground didn't suit as much today. I was worried I'd gone too early, but she's a lovely filly with good character. She'll be much better on good ground. She has all the points–stamina, speed and a good temperament. It's always great to be at Ascot on a day like this winning for Godolphin.”
A clearly delighted Sheikh Mohammed added, “She handled the ground because she is so strong and she is a special filly. Look at her head, she looks like Shamardal.”
Andre Fabre said, “I had a lot of confidence, but I was so worried about the ground. She showed strength for a female that I didn't expect and she's in the [G1] Falmouth [S. at Newmarket July 8] and Group 1 races in France if she recovers well. The American fillies are good, but it would be good to take them on in the Breeders' Cup. I'd be quite confident she could beat Tepin, as she has a turn of foot which is quite exceptional.”
Godolphin's chief executive and racing manager John Ferguson was also on hand to say, “Both jockeys [of the winner and Always Smile] reported they hated the groud, so that is the sign of very good fillies. Andre Fabre is a master of his profession who has made no secret of his regard for this filly, so it's wonderful. He has a very clear view of how good his horses are and she can win a race like this on this ground, but ultimately she will be better on better ground. Always Smile really hated the ground, but she's game and James [Doyle] said 'she'll take on the best on good ground.”
The first foal and first black-type winner for the stakes-placed Monday Show, Usherette is therefore a granddaughter of the G3 Prix Penelope scorer La Sylphide who also produced the dual graded-stakes winner Expansion to a mating with Maria's Mon. The next dam Vanishing Prairie is a half-sister to the G1SW champion and top producer Verveine (Lear Fan), in turn responsible for the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Vespone (Ire) (Llandaff) from the family of the fellow top-level scorers Maid's Causeway (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) and Vallee Enchantee (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). Monday Show also has a 3-year-old full-sister to the winner, the already-successful Show Day (Ire), and also a 2-year-old colt named Powderhouse (Ire) by Raven's Pass as well as an unnamed yearling colt by Cape Cross (Ire).
Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE S.-G2, £175,000, ASC, 6-15, 4yo/up, f, 8fT, 1:43.33, sf.
1–USHERETTE (IRE), 129, f, 4, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Monday Show (SP-Ger), by Maria's Mon
2nd Dam: La Sylphide (Swi), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Vanishing Prairie, by Alysheba
O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. £99,242. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-0, $278,945. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”itm-g2-g3″]2–Furia Cruzada (Chi), 126, m, 5, Newfoundland–Nuestra Machi (Chi), by Hussonet. O-F Fantini; B-Haras Dadinco (CHI); T-John Gosden. £37,625.
3–Always Smile (Ire), 126, f, 4, Cape Cross (Ire)–Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. £18,830.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1. Odds: 2.25, 20.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Miss Temple City, Jazzi Top (GB), Lucida (Ire), Black Cherry (GB), Excilly (GB), Maimara (Fr), Devonshire (Ire), Blond Me (Ire), Bint Dandy (Ire), Spangled (GB), Volunteer Point (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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