By Tom Frary
Having turned heads eight days earlier when successful by eight lengths over this seven-furlong trip at Cork, Susan Magnier's Kenya (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) maintained that momentum to land a first black-type success and provide Aidan O'Brien with an 11th renewal of Sunday's G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown. Sent to the front soon after the start by Donnacha O'Brien, the powerful-striding bay who had debuted with a third to stablemate Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) over this trip at Naas Oct. 4 kicked at the top of the straight and had all else in trouble. Keeping on despite tiring late, he secured a length success from Mcmunigal (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}), with the winner's yard companion Bye Bye Baby (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a half length back in third.
“Seven is sharp enough for him, but he tries hard and is improving,” his jockey commented. “He got a grand lead and kept galloping and he'll definitely get further.” Aidan O'Brien added, “He's a big powerful horse and was babyish and learnt a lot from his first to his second start and has progressed again. Donnacha said he's a big genuine horse who handled the ease in the ground well. Whether he starts in a Guineas trial or not I don't know, but if you listened to Donnacha you'd probably go a mile and a quarter next year. Seamus was very happy with Bye Bye Baby and he said he wouldn't mind letting her roll along next time.”
Kenya becomes the second group scorer for the Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge runner-up Tender Morn (Dayjur) alongside the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner and former TDN Rising Star Zantenda (GB) (Zamindar) who was also third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. The dam of a total of four black-type performers, Tender Morn who also has a foal full-sister to Kenya is a half-sister to the Listed Prix Cor de Chasse scorer and G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte runner-up Diableneyev (Nureyev) who descends from Queen Empress (Bold Ruler). The US champion 2-year-old filly in 1964, the prolific winner went on to produce the Native Dancer H. scorer Hail Emperor (Graustark) as well as the smart broodmares Royal Dilemma (Buckpasser) and Call the Queen (Hail To Reason) whose descendants include the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp heroine Silver Fling (The Minstrel) and the four-times group 1-winning champion Jewel Princess (Key To the Mint).
Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KILLAVULLAN S.-G3, €60,000, LEO, 10-22, 2yo, 7fT, 1:35.28, sf.
1–KENYA (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Tender Morn (SP-Fr), by Dayjur
2nd Dam: La Pitie, by Devil's Bag
3rd Dam: Empiracle, by Forli (Arg)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN.
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Donnacha O'Brien. €35,400. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $52,931. *1/2 to Zantenda (GB) (Zamindar), GSW & G1SP-Fr, $119,522; Single (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}), GSP-Fr; and Elusif (Fr) (Elusive Quality), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–McMunigal (Ire), 129, g, 2, Epaulette (Aus)–Picture of Lily (GB), by Medicean (GB). (€33,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV; €45,000 RNA Ylg '16 GOFORB; 50,000gns 2yo '17 TATBRE). O-David Spratt; B-Michael O'Mahony (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €12,000.
3–Bye Bye Baby (Ire), 126, f, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Remember When (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Remember When Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €6,000.
Margins: 1, HF, 1HF. Odds: 1.75, 4.00, 2.00.
Also Ran: Guessthebill (Ire), Dramatically, Quizical (Ire), Gasta (Ire). Scratched: Landshark (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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