By Tom Frary
Coming out of the G2 Prix Robert Papin with muscular issues, Heartache was put back together again by the rampant Clive Cox stable and duly returned to deny Havana Grey in what had promised to be and what amounted to be a match on Town Moor. Going from a Bath maiden win on debut May 26 to G2 Queen Mary S. glory at Royal Ascot June 21, the bay had the class to fill third spot behind the subsequent G1 Prix Morny winner Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) in the Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte despite having sustained an injury during that 5 1/2-furlong contest July 23. Settled just off the pace racing far side as the Morny runner-up Havana Grey made the running up the centre, she worked her way past him inside the final 100 yards as Ryan Moore asked for reserves and as expected the pair of talented sprinters drew well away from May Girl and the remainder.
“When they said it was heavy ground at the start of the week, the last thing I thought possible was to come and win like this,” Cox said. “Obviously it's kept drying and she's done so well from her last run. Ryan was very impressed by her and said she was just taking it easy and enjoying the last little bit, so it was very good.” Explaining Heartache's recent problem, he added, “She was muscle-sore after the Prix Robert Papin. There was a coming together at the start which is where I think it happened. We've got a great team at home who got her back in good nick and she's grown and is stronger, too. The [G1] Cheveley Park [Stakes at Newmarket Sept. 30] is very much on the cards, stepping up to six, as long as it's not too soft. In the meantime we've got nothing to lose and the way she's developed and grown, she's an awfully nice filly for next year. She'd be a Commonwealth Cup filly if she gets six. I think that's hopefully on the cards. The only reason Adam [Kirby] was not on board today was because he couldn't do the weight. Ryan was a more than able deputy and I was delighted to have him.”
Karl Burke is another trainer enjoying a stellar campaign and he said of the runner-up, “I think we've bumped into an improving filly. I saw her in France and for me she looked a bit bigger and stronger today. I said that to Clive before the race and he said she'd grown. That was her fourth run, this was our eighth run, so she's entitled to keep improving. PJ [McDonald] said he quickened and he couldn't believe the other horse got back to him, so we have no excuses. There are no real five-furlong races for him now, so I doubt he'll run again this season.”
Heartache's dam Place In My Heart, who also has a yearling filly by Showcasing (GB) and a filly foal by Iffraaj (GB), captured the Listed Lansdown Fillies' S. and was third in the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges for this stable. She is a half-sister to the G3 Tetrarch S. winner Leitrim House (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), while the listed-placed second dam Lonely Heart is a half to the dam of the G2 Sapphire S. and G3 Flying Five S. winner Stepper Point (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}).
Friday, Doncaster, Britain
WAINWRIGHTS FLYING CHILDERS S.-G2, £70,000, DON, 9-15, 2yo, 5f 3yT, :58.73, g/s.
1–HEARTACHE (GB), 124, f, 2, by Kyllachy (GB)
1st Dam: Place In My Heart (GB) (SW-Eng & GSP-Fr), by Compton Place (GB)
2nd Dam: Lonely Heart (GB), by Midyan
3rd Dam: Take Heart (GB), by Electric (GB)
O-The Hot to Trot Syndicate – Heartache; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox; J-Ryan Moore. £39,697. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 4-3-0-1, $153,751. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Havana Grey (GB), 127, c, 2, Havana Gold (Ire)–Blanc de Chine (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). (42,000gns Wlg '15 TATFOA; €70,000 Ylg '16 ARAUG). O-Global Racing Club & Mrs E Burke; B-Mickley Stud & Lady Lonsdale (GB); T-Karl Burke. £15,050.
3–May Girl (GB), 124, f, 2, Mayson (GB)–Instructress (GB), by Diktat (GB). O/B-Bottisham Heath Stud (GB); T-Robert Cowell. £7,532.
Margins: HF, 4HF, HF. Odds: 1.50, 1.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Pursuing the Dream (Ire), Roland Rocks (Ire), Midsummer Knight (GB), Spoof (GB), Yogi's Girl (Ire), Wings of the Rock (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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