With the G2 Norfolk S. winner Prince of Lir (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) flopping in fifth, it was his compatriot Tis Marvellous who emerged clear best with this impressive display of speed to emulate the same owners's 2012 winner Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate). Earning this tilt with an eight-length success in a six-furlong Windsor maiden July 11, the bay who had previously finished runner-up on debut to the useful listed-placed Mutawatheb (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) at Newbury June 30 was sent straight into a duel for the lead with Prince of Lir. Starting to win the war with that 7-5 favourite from the two-furlong marker, he drifted right when in total command and only the classy filly Al Johrah could begin to live with his finishing surge.
Clive Cox, who also trained Reckless Abandon to win the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. after his success in this race, had been looking for a bold show but was impressed with the manner of the win. “That was a really pleasing performance, he handled the step into group company with aplomb,” he commented. “It's nice to win it for the same connections we won it with Reckless Abandon, too. It was a pretty special display, the way he took lengths out of the field was exciting. He's won over six already, so I wouldn't be worried about going back up in trip. The ground had dried out a fair bit here and Adam [Kirby] said he just lugged off the rail, possibly feeling the ground. I couldn't be more pleased with him. He's not in the Gimcrack, so he won't go there–we'll just take it one step at a time and go home and enjoy this first.”
Tis Marvellous, who was providing a landmark first black-type success for his first-season sire (by Acclamation {GB}), is all about speed and precocity as a grandson of the G3 Queen Mary S. winner Romantic Myth (GB) (Mind Games {GB}), herself a half to another winner of that five-furlong Royal Ascot juvenile feature in Romantic Liason (GB) (Primo Dominie {GB}). Mythicism also has a yearling filly by Lethal Force (Ire), yet another high-class runner to advertise Cox's considerable skills as a trainer in recent years.
Sunday, Maisons-Laffitte, France
PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, MLF, 7-24, 2yo, c/f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.16, gd.
1–#@TIS MARVELLOUS (GB), 128, c, 2, by Harbour Watch (Ire)
1st Dam: Mythicism (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Romantic Myth (GB), by Mind Games (GB)
3rd Dam: My First Romance (GB), by Danehill
(48,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; £52,000 Ylg '15 DNPRM). O-Julie Deadman & Stephen Barrow; B-Crossfields Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Clive Cox; J-Adam Kirby. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €80,606. *First stakes winner for freshman sire (by Acclamation {GB}). Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Al Johrah (GB), 125, f, 2, Bated Breath (GB)">Bated Breath (GB)–Bea Remembered (GB), by Doyen (Ire). O/B-Al Shaqab Racing (GB); T-Henri-Francois Devin. €28,600.
3–Hargeisa, 125, f, 2, Speightstown–Hasay (GB), by Lomitas (GB). O/B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (KY); T-Mario Hofer. €13,650.
Margins: 2HF, 4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 3.10, 8.00.
[bullet ad=”winchester-double-yoshida”][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]Also Ran: Morigane Forlonge (Fr), Prince of Lir (Ire), Cosachope (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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