By Tom Frary
One of several useful performers by Tally-Ho Stud's ill-fated Society Rock, Unfortunately duly became his first black-type winner as the G2 Queen Mary S. winner Heartache failed to fire. Impressive when breaking his maiden at Hamilton May 19, the bay ran second to Ardenode (Ire) (Hellvelyn {GB}) in the Listed Prix la Fleche here June 10 before filling the same spot behind the subsequent G2 Superlative S. fourth Zaman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in Pontefract's Spindrifter Conditions S. on his first try over six last time July 3.
Travelling strongly sporting a visor tracking the leader Frozen Angel as Heartache proved headstrong after being bumped leaving the stalls, he was driven to gain a narrow lead with 300 metres remaining as the sole French-trained runner High Dream Milena (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) was prepared for delivery in behind. As Unfortunately rolled towards the rail, the door was closed on High Dream Milena and by the time she had regained momentum the winner was out of reach. Trainer Karl Burke said, “I'm relieved we kept the race in the stewards' room. I'm not sure we would have done if the French horse had finished second. We had a bit of a sticky six months of the year, but the horses are coming to themselves now and running well. If he'd finished third or fourth I'd have been satisfied, but I'm not surprised he's run so well. He's a horse with a lot of ability.” Of future targets, he added, “The [G2] Richmond at Goodwood comes soon enough and he'd need soft ground on an undulating track like that. We'll have to consider the [Aug. 20 G1] Prix Morny. A flat track like Deauville will suit him and six furlongs shouldn't be a problem judged on the way he finished today. There's also the [Aug. 26 G2] Gimcrack [S.] at York, so we'll see what happens. We'll try to turn him into a little stallion.”
After an inquiry, the result was allowed to stand and Unfortunately was becoming the second black-type winner for the dam after the G2 Temple S. and G3 Flying Five winner Look Busy. The dam, who hails from the family of the G3 King George S. and G3 Cornwallis S.-winning sire Singing Steven (GB), also has a yearling filly by Sir Prancealot (Ire) and a filly foal by Morpheus (GB).
Sunday, Maisons-Laffitte, France
PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, MLF, 7-23, 2yo, c/f, 5 1/2fT, 1:04.50, g/s.
1–UNFORTUNATELY (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Society Rock (Ire)
1st Dam: Unfortunate (GB), by Komaite
2nd Dam: Honour and Glory (GB), by Hotfoot (GB)
3rd Dam: Cheb's Honour (GB), by Chebs Lad (GB)
(€24,000 Ylg '16 TIRSEP). O-J Laughton & Mrs E Burke; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Tony Piccone. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, €95,898. *1st group win. **1/2 to Look Busy (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}), GSW-Eng & Ire, SP-Ger, $524,059. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Frozen Angel (Ire), 128, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Cut No Ice (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). (£165,000 Ylg '16 DNPRM). O-Cleverley, Dance, Mound, Owen; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Tom Dascombe. €28,600.
3–Heartache (GB), 125, f, 2, Kyllachy (GB)–Place In My Heart (GB), by Compton Place (GB). O-The Hot To Trot Syndicate – Heartache; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. €13,650.
Margins: HF, SHD, 3/4. Odds: 10.20, 8.30, 1.80.
Also Ran: High Dream Milena (Fr), Ipompieridiviggiu (Ity), De Bruyne Horse (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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