By Tom Frary
Newmarket's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. looked as if it could be a Roger Varian benefit beforehand and that proved the case as Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's Qabala (Scat Daddy) brushed aside stablemate Mot Juste (Distorted Humor) to bring a raw excitement to Tuesday's edition of the time-honoured seven-furlong 1000 Guineas prep. While it is 13 years since Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) brought up the Nell Gwyn-Guineas double, this performance from the course-and-distance maiden winner who was hammered into 10-3 favouritism strongly suggests it can realistically happen again in 2 1/2 weeks' time. Slowly away under rookie jockey David Egan and needing niggling worse than mid-division, the bay warmed into the contest passing three out and produced the same powerful surge that she had on debut to overwhelm Robert Barnett's homebred passing the furlong pole. At the line, there was clear water between them, officially 1 3/4 lengths, with 3/4 of a length back to Angel's Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third. “It was a great performance from Qabala–I was impressed by her,” Varian said. “She looks a miler to me and she was very professional, while Mot Juste also trialled beautifully. They are two nice fillies owned by different people and I see no reason why they would not both line up for the Guineas. In my eyes, they have both passed their trial and we just need to see how they come out of the race.”
Varian has something to occupy his mind other than having two high-class fillies as the May 5 Classic looms. “Qabala was very professional in the paddock and in the race and that was the side we weren't sure about, but she was a little bit anxious behind the stalls and we'll have to address that,” he added. “She can have a little anxious side to her personality and so today will have done her a lot of good. She will probably be even better behaved next time with this under her belt and as it turned out she looked there as if she had more than one run. She has not come in her coat yet and I nearly didn't run her. She had been trained for the race to trial today and bar having a long coat, I have been happy with her work and she has got a healthy look to her. We thought the maiden form was strong at the time and we liked her before that maiden, so we went into the winter thinking she was a nice one.”
Qabala has grade one-performing blood in her veins, so it is a surprise that her dam Entwine (Empire Maker) was eventually sold to Maurice and Samantha Regan's Newtown Anner Stud Farm for just $170,000 in July 2016 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Summer Mixed Sale. That came weeks before this filly was a hit at the November Foal Sale and while it is easy to say at this point, Al Shahania Stud's $300,000 purchase of one of the last of the Scat Daddys looks inspired. Along with the GII Goldikova S. winner and the GI Jenny Wiley S. runner-up Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), Entwine is a daughter of Juddmonte's GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. heroine Flute (Seattle Slew) whose Crosswinds (Storm Cat) threw the GI Ashland S. heroine Weep No More (Mineshaft). With that in mind, it is obvious why after producing a 2-year-old filly by Declaration of War Entwine was sent to Mineshaft twice and she has a yearling filly to show for it.
As far as European turf breeding goes, Qabala's fourth dam is Media Luna (GB) (Star Appeal {Ire}), the G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up who was responsible for the G3 Park Hill S.-winning Eva Luna (Alleged) who in turn produced the G1 St Leger and G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and the equally capable Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}). Qabala represents the best of Juddmonte's unerring ability to mix dirt and grass and get the same high-class results.
Tuesday, Newmarket, Britain
LANWADES STUD NELL GWYN S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 4-16, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:25.77, g/f.
1–QABALA, 126, f, 3, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Entwine, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Flute, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Rougeur, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. ($300,000 Wlg '16 FTKNOV). O-H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Eutrophia Farm (KY); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $52,993. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mot Juste, 126, f, 3, Distorted Humor–Time On (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O-R Barnett; B-W & R Barnett Ltd. (KY); T-Roger Varian. £12,900.
3–Angel's Hideaway (Ire), 126, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–The Hermitage (Ire), by Kheleyf. (€390,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-Yeomanstown Stud & Doc Bloodstock (IRE); T-John Gosden. £6,456.
Margins: 1 3/4, 3/4, 1. Odds: 3.30, 7.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Look Around (GB), Nashirah (GB), Orchid Star (GB), Main Edition (Ire), Come On Leicester (Ire), Mistress of Love, Mercenary Rose (Ire), Sunday Star (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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