By Tom Frary
Impressive when making all over this five-furlong trip at Haydock June 7, Clipper Logistics' Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) dominated his stand's-side group and eventually the entire field in the Listed Windsor Castle S. for a first Royal success for the Archie Watson stable. Allowed to roll by Danny Tudhope, the 12-1 shot was always too quick for his contemporaries on his side but it was not until the furlong pole that he got to those racing up the centre and far side. Tackled by Sabre (GB) (Mayson {GB}) from there, the bay held on to score by a half length, with Dom Carlos (Ire) (Gale Force Ten {GB}) 1 3/4 lengths away in third. “It was a great performance–he has so much speed,” his rider said. “I was a bit behind the far side, but I was able to do my own thing and wasn't hassled.” Watson commented, “It's only our second season training and I thought I might have to wait longer for this. Joe Foley, Steve Parkin, Clipper Logistics and Federico Barberini have put a lot of faith in me and sent me some proper kit, so I'm just delighted I can repay that. I would imagine the [G3] Molecomb [at Glorious Goodwood Aug. 1] would be his aim. We would love to go to Churchill Downs for the new Breeders' Cup race over five and half furlongs in November if that's the way the season progresses. He and [the Chesham runner-up] Nate the Great are two very natural horses and there is nice strength in depth to our two-year-olds.”
Trainer Richard Fahey said of Sabre, “He flew home and we do like the horse. He probably didn't handle coming down the hill that well and got himself out of position and into one where he probably shouldn't have been, but that is not his fault–that's racing. Once he hit the rising ground, he took off. He could go up to six furlongs or we could stay at five furlongs–he is a nice horse. I like him and I thought he would win, so I'm disappointed.”
Soldier's Call is out of Dijarvo (Iceman {GB}), who as a juvenile was the winner of the Listed Prix la Fleche before finishing third in the G3 Railbird S. She is kin to Bailey's Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), who is in turn the dam of Mamba Noire (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) whose three group placings include a third in the G2 Lowther S. Dijarvo also has an as-yet unnamed yearling filly by Canford Cliffs (Ire).
Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
WINDSOR CASTLE S.-Listed, £90,000, Ascot, 6-23, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.25, g/f.
1–SOLDIER'S CALL (GB), 129, c, 2, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Dijarvo (GB) (SW-Fr & GSP-US), by Iceman (GB)
2nd Dam: Thicket (GB), by Wolfhound
3rd Dam: Sharpthorne, by Sharpen Up (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (85,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-Llety Farms (GB); T-Archie Watson; J-Daniel Tudhope. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $78,924.[bullet ad=”schumer-dam-purchased”]2–Sabre (GB), 129, c, 2, Mayson (GB)–Crinkle (Ire), by Distant Relative (Ire). (28,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Mrs Janis MacPherson. £19,350.
3–Dom Carlos (Ire), 129, c, 2, Gale Force Ten (GB)–Fancy Feathers (Ire), by Redback (GB). (€34,000 Wlg '16 GOFNOV; £45,000 Ylg '17 GOUKPR). O-M O'Sullivan & Annus Mirabilis Syndicate. £9,684.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 12.00, 12.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Van Beethoven, Tin Hat (Ire), Junius Brutus (Fr), Rockin Roy (Ire), Well Done Fox (GB), Life of Riley (GB), James Watt (Ire), Lihou (GB), Rolling King, Moonlight Romance, North Wind (Ire), World Order (Ire), Thegreatestshowman (GB), Queen of Bermuda (Ire), Isle of Innisfree, Mayson Mac (GB), Chapelli (GB), Mutawaffer (Ire), Cococabala (Ire), Murqaab (GB), Kapono (GB), Kessaar (Ire), Jungle Inthebungle (Ire), Hit The Track Jack (GB), Li Kui (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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