Looking to be cut from the same cloth as her illustrious half-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) when impressive in a seven-furlong maiden at the Galway festival, the Niarchos Family's Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) confirmed that impression when prevailing in a thrilling finale to The Curragh's G2 Debutante S. on Friday. Tracking the early pace carved out by TDN Rising Star and stablemate Windracer (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), the 2-1 second favourite handed first run to Ballydoyle's Petite Mustique (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) before reeling in the Ballydoyle representative in the final yards to score by a short head. Soul Search (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was 3/4 of a length away in third, while the 6-4 favourite Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) only fifth.
Third without being asked a serious question on debut over this trip at Leopardstown July 11, Alpine Star was behind Love and Soul Search and a place ahead of Petite Mustique on that occasion with the winner going on to take the G3 Silver Flash S., the runner-up finishing third in the G3 Anglesey S. and the fourth a maiden at Galway. Three days after Petite Mustique's maiden win at the famed festival, the Niarchos homebred upstaged her in style when defying a wide draw that always makes life particularly tough over seven furlongs at that venue Aug. 2. Breaking well from the inside draw here, the chestnut had dead aim on Love for the majority of the contest but when Windracer began to drop away it was Petite Mustique who appeared the likeliest winner approaching the furlong pole. Pressed into a fight as that rival narrowed the gap inside the final 100 yards, Alpine Star was notably determined thrusting her chin forward as the line approached.
“She's all heart and stays really well,” trainer Jessie Harrington told Irish Racing.com. “Shane said they went hard the whole way and she got a little bit lost in the middle of the race, but when she got upsides all she wanted to do was stick her head out. She's tough and needs a mile. She likes that dig in the ground and we'll see where she goes now. She's in the [Oct. 11 G1] Fillies' Mile [at Newmarket] and also the [Oct. 6 G1] Prix Marcel Boussac [at ParisLongchamp]. I've got Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) for the Moyglare.”
Alpha Centauri excelled over six furlongs early at two before fulfilling her promise during the summer of her Classic campaign, winning the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S., G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois over the mile trip at which she was so dynamic. Untried over further, she looked to have the potential to stay 10 furlongs and it is probable that Alpine Star will be campaigned over middle distances in 2020. The dam Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy), who also produced the Listed Golden Fleece S. winner and G2 Royal Lodge S. runner-up Tenth Star (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), is a daughter of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix de Diane and Jacques le Marois heroine East of the Moon (Private Account) who is the second dam of the G3 Horris Hill S.-winning sire Evasive (GB) (Elusive Quality). A granddaughter of Miesque (Nureyev), Alpha Lupi has the unraced 3-year-old filly Etoile Filante (GB) (So You Think {NZ}) and a foal full-sister to Alpha Centauri, while her winning Danehill Dancer (Ire) daughter Elitiste (Ire) is represented at the upcoming Keeneland September Yearling Sale by hip 377, a filly by Group 1 sire Camelot (GB).
Friday, Curragh, Ireland
DEBUTANTE S.-G2, €115,000, Curragh, 8-23, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.08, yl.
1–ALPINE STAR (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Sea the Moon (Ger)
1st Dam: Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy
2nd Dam: East of the Moon, by Private Account
3rd Dam: Miesque, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €67,850. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $90,085. *1/2 to Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eur, Eng, Fr & Ire at 7-9.5f, MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr & Ire, $1,639,990; and Tenth Star (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), SW & GSP-Ire, GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Petite Mustique (Ire), 126, f, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Inca Princess (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). (€1,100,000 Wlg '17 GOFNOV). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Desert Star Phoenix Jvc (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €23,000.
3–Soul Search (Ire), 126, f, 2, Zoffany (Ire)–Ecoutila, by Rahy. (230,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd; B-Marston Norelands & Richmond Bloodstock (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €11,500.
Margins: NO, 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.00, 9.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: So Wonderful, Love (Ire), Tango (Ire), Know It All (GB), Windracer (Ire), French Rain (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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