By Tom Frary
Carrying the silks of her sire, Sea of Class staked her Oaks claims with an authoritative success in this late trial for Epsom. Narrowly denied by the subsequent G3 Musidora S. disappointment Ceilidhs Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in a mile maiden at Newmarket Apr. 18, the chestnut was anchored in last early travelling with enthusiasm. With TDN Rising Star Crystal Hope making the first move on the front end passing the three-furlong marker before being swamped by Athena, Sea of Class was on the scene quickly to gain the lead with a furlong remaining and readily assert from Ballydoyle's maiden.
Connections were non-committal about a tilt at the Oaks, with just 13 days to the Classic. “Dancing Rain got beat in this race and won the Oaks, but I think she is bit short on experience,” trainer William Haggas's wife and assistant Maureen commented. “In an ideal world you would like to give her a bit more time and be kind to her. She has got a bit of a mind on her and we would not want to upset her. All that hoo-ha at Epsom–whether she would quite make that I'm not sure and it's only in two weeks' time. Maybe she will go to [Royal] Ascot, we will see what the owner wants to do.” Haggas was complimentary about the winner, who is obviously a handful at home. “She is a very nice filly. She is a bit of a character and she can kick and buck,” she added. “She has been brilliant today, but she can be quite aggressive. She has improved a lot for her first run.”
The winner is the fifth black-type scorer for the listed-winning Holy Moon, with two of them Charity Line and Final Score remarkably both capturing the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio and G2 Oaks d'Italia and a third, Cherry Collect, also taking the Oaks d'Italia as well as the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas). Also the dam of last year's G2 Derby Italiano runner-up Back On Board, Holy Moon also has a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB). The second dam's half-sister Bright Generation (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) also annexed the Oaks d'Italia when it carried group 1 status and is the second dam of the champion juvenile and sire Dabirsim (Fr) (Hat Trick {Jpn}).
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
HARAS DE BOUQUETOT FILLIES' TRIAL S.-Listed, £70,000, Newbury, 5-19, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:09.33, g/f.
1–SEA OF CLASS (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Holy Moon (Ire) (SW-Ity, $161,048), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Centinela (GB), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: New Generation (Ire), by Young Generation (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (170,000gns Ylg '16 TATDEY). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Razza Del Velino SRL (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-James Doyle. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $56,207. *1/2 to Charity Line (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9.5-11f & G1SW-Ity, $454,242; Final Score (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), G1SW-Ity, $435,934; Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 9.5-11f, MGSW & G1SP-Ity, $497,183; Wordless (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), GSW-Ity, $148,264; Back On Board (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), GSP-Ity, $176,250; and Magic Mystery (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}), SP-Ity.
2–Athena (Ire), 126, f, 3, Camelot (GB)">Camelot (GB)–Cherry Hinton (GB), by Green Desert. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor. £15,050.
3–Crystal Hope (GB), 126, f, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Crystal Etoile (GB), by Dansili (GB). O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild. £7,532.
Margins: 2, 5, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 8.00, 2.00.
Also Ran: Arcadian Cat, Dance Legend (GB), Stream Song (GB). Scratched: Apple Anni (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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