Lope de Vega's South Seas Impresses In Solario Test

Educated via two winning starts over six furlongs on soft ground at Windsor June 20 and at Haydock July 15, South Seas overcame a slovenly start to win this with real authority and justify trainer Andrew Balding's high opinion. Despite his tardy break, the chestnut was able to make his way into mid-division without any difficulties as Oisin Murphy gained a rail position and he was coasting as his rivals took on a pedestrian look to his right halfway up the straight. Gaining the lead with over a furlong remaining, he strode clear with the race in the bag as the green Eqtiraan ran around in behind. After checking the big screen by the winning post, Murphy even had time to administer a stroke down the neck and a pat as he hit the line.

Balding was full of admiration afterwards. “I was really pleased with him. He's done it as well as we could have hoped and we're very happy,” he commented. “We'll have to sit down and discuss it, but obviously I think he's worthy of targeting one of the bigger autumn races.” South Seas is so far the only living foal out of a half to the Listed Chesham S. and Hong Kong Classic Cup winner Zaidan (Street Cry {Ire}), who was also runner-up in the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup. Their respective dam Element of Truth is in turn a half to the four-times group 3 winner Ramooz (Rambo Dancer) and the G1 Fillies' Mile third My Hansel (Hansel). This is also the family of the champion sire Averof (GB).

 

Saturday, Sandown, Britain
TCA ABU DHABI SOLARIO S.-G3, £45,000, SAN, 8-20, 2yo, 7f 16yT, 1:30.81, g/s.
1–#@SOUTH SEAS (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Let It Be Me, by Mizzen Mast
2nd Dam: Element of Truth, by Atticus
3rd Dam: My Shafy (Ire), by Rousillon
(€170,000 Wlg '14 GOFNOV; 145,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Stonepark Farms (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $43,248. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Salouen (Ire), 127, c, 2, Canford Cliffs (Ire)–Gali Gal (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€85,000 Ylg '15 GOFSPT). O-H Balasuriya; B-Silvercon Edgerodge Ltd (IRE); T-Sylvester Kirk. £9,675.
3–Eqtiraan (Ire), 127, c, 2, Helmet (Aus)–Miranda Frost (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (92,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; 250,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Victor Stud Bloodstock & Brendan Cummins (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £4,842.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1, HF. Odds: 2.25, 16.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Apex King (Ire), Majoris (Ire), Monticello (Ire), Van Der Decken (GB), Repton (Ire), Total Star (GB), Seniority (GB). Scratched: Bahamas (Ire), Sea Fox (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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