By Tom Frary
Like Tuesday's G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Qabala (Scat Daddy), Skardu (GB) (Shamardal) entered his Newmarket Guineas trial with just a course win to his name but like that filly emerged from Wednesday's G3 bet365 Craven S. with his reputation significantly enhanced. Only 3-1 this time as opposed to the 33-1 he had been when scoring with panache over seven furlongs here in September, Abdulla Al Khalifa's homebred was restrained by James Doyle in last of the tightly-bunched field throughout the early stages. Waiting for Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) to move first, the chestnut swooped on the outer of that rival to lead passing the furlong pole and outstay Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) by a neck, with 1 3/4 lengths back to Set Piece in third. The 13-8 favourite Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass) never threatened to land a blow and wound up a further 3/4 of a length behind in fourth. “That was pretty smart and you'd have to be impressed,” the winning rider said. “It's proven hard yesterday and today to make up ground and it was just a mediocre pace, so you can upgrade the performance. He showed a blistering turn of foot and he wandered around in front, so he's still learning and will come on for that. All the right signs are there.”
William Haggas trained the dam Diala (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and dared to run her in the G1 1000 Guineas on the back of a four-length juvenile maiden win at this track, only for her to finish 11th behind Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). She was only 14-1 for the 2012 renewal of that Classic, which says a great deal about the regard in which she was held by a trainer long widely regarded as one of the shrewdest in the business.
“I always thought a lot of her,” he recalled of the dam in the aftermath of Wednesday's contest. “I think Skardu is a miler and no more, because most Shamardals don't stay and she was quite fast. I don't know what the form is like, but I was pleased with him–he relaxed well and showed a nice turn of foot. He surprised me first time out, but he's getting better and he was very calm today. He doesn't do a lot at home. He was ridden to run a nice race and hope for the best and James said he had to take a pull three out, which is a nice sign.”
While Skardu was well-supported and not in any way a surprise winner, if there was one unexposed horse expected to come out of this prep with a glow it was Godolphin's Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal). Up near the moderate pace throughout, he was already fading when hampered in the closing stages and William Haggas revealed that he was aware of the reputation of Charlie Appleby's challenge.
“James [Doyle] told me the other day he knew Charlie's horse was good, so we didn't know what to expect,” he added. “I thought last year's 2-year-olds were as poor a bunch as I've had for some years, but I've got one or two good ones and this could be a real good one. We can get a bit excited, I think.”
Diala's first foal Duwaliya (Bhr) (Yalaietanee {GB}) only raced in the owner-breeder's native Bahrain, so it is no wonder that Skardu went virtually unnoticed when he appeared at this venue in September especially with him being so undemonstrative in his homework. The second dam Quaich (GB) (Danehill), a half to the G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen runner-up Lukrecia (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), was a winner for Saeed bin Suroor before being cast-off for just 17,000gns at the 2007 Tattersalls July Sale. The fourth dam, the classy sprinter Spain Lane (Seeking the Gold) who took the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene and was placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., G1 Prix Morny and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, is a half to the sire Marquetry. Diala's 2-year-old filly is by Poet's Voice (GB), while she also has a yearling filly by Camelot (GB). Interestingly, the latter was himself a product of one of Abdulla Al Khalifa's mares Tarfah (Kingmambo).
Wednesday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 CRAVEN S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 4-17, 3yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:37.89, g/f.
1–SKARDU (GB), 126, c, 3, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Diala (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Quaich (GB), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Quecha (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Abdulla Al Khalifa; B-Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa (GB); T-William Haggas; J-James Doyle. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $52,861. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Momkin (Ire), 126, c, 3, Bated Breath (GB)–Contradict (GB), by Raven's Pass. O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Charlton. £12,900.
3–Set Piece (GB), 126, c, 3, Dansili (GB)–Portodora, by Kingmambo. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Hugo Palmer. £6,456.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 28.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Royal Marine (Ire), Zakouski (GB), Watan (GB), Global Spectrum (GB), Jackstar (Ire). Scratched: Confiding (GB), Prince Eiji (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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