Showcasing's Tasleet Slams Duke of York Opposition

Dropping back to this trip for the first time since the Ebor meeting here in August 2015, Tasleet turned into sprinter extraordinaire at a rain-soaked Knavesmire to suggest he can emerge as a leading force in this category. His last visit to this venue when winning the DBS Premier Yearling S. came on the back of a win in the Listed Rose Bowl S. at Newbury and second to Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. and preceded a nose second to Sanus Per Aquam (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G3 Somerville Tattersall S. on his first try at seven at Newmarket in September. Injured after his successful return in the G3 Greenham S. at that distance on Chelmsford's Polytrack last April, the bay was seen only once more during 2016 when eighth in the G2 Challenge S. at Newmarket in October.

Runner-up to Home of the Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) again over seven furlongs in the Listed King Richard III S. at Leicester Apr. 29, Tasleet was held up early by Jim Crowley in first-time cheekpieces and made such effortless progress on the easy ground he was running into the back of rivals approaching the final quarter mile. Needing a run with last year's winner Magical Memory threatening to get away up ahead, he was found daylight and duly rushed to the front passing the furlong pole before galloping out strongly to the line. “I was impressed,” Crowley commented. “That was the first time I've ridden him and we weren't really sure if he would go on the ground, but he loved it. My only concern came when they couldn't get out my way, as I was struggling for a bit of room. When I switched him, he took off. He was pretty good there and he has not had too many goes at six furlongs, but he clearly relishes it.”

Trainer William Haggas was visibly delighted afterwards and has a trip to the Royal meeting in mind now. “He's a very talented horse, but I always thought he wanted fast ground,” he commented. “I was upset with this rain, but he clearly revelled in it. He's been in really good form at home, but got an abscess before the [G3] Abernant which was unfortunate, but it was just a two-day thing. I've been nagging to come back to six for a while and I have to make a stallion of him now. He's been a relatively sound horse, but he did have a bad injury to a hind ankle which took a long time to come right. He was a talented horse and difficult to criticise at two and is obviously versatile. He's got stronger and looks like a sprinter now–he's not very big, but is strong and very genuine and he's a charming horse. He was not very expensive, but has always been thoroughly likeable and just wants to please. The next step is about a month away and the [G1] Diamond Jubilee [S. at Royal Ascot June 24] is that next step. He deserves a big one and if it dries up at Ascot I suppose I'll be saying its too firm for him now. We'll look to France and anywhere there is a group 1 and the [G1 Prix] Maurice de Gheest [at Deauville Aug. 6] would be perfect for him.”

Charlie Hills said of Magical Memory, “We had a lot of concerns before the race about the ground, but it was always the plan to run him here and Royal Ascot was in the back of our minds. To go there, we felt we had to run here. His work had been really good this spring, he's got his enthusiasm back after a niggling problem last year. I'm really delighted with that, as he shows he does go okay on that ground. Whether he had a problem during the Haydock [Sprint Cup] race, I don't know but it was heavy there and he never went a yard on it. He gets six well, but five could be an option as well later. The Diamond Jubilee is the race for us this season.”

The dam, who was fairly limited on the track with just one unplaced start to her name, is a half to four black-type performers headed by Shadwell's G2 Champagne S. winner and G1 July Cup third Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk). His extended family includes the G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G2 Yorkshire Cup-winning sire Braashee, the dual GIII Fort Marcy H. scorer Adam Smith (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and Ghariba (Ire) (Final Straw {GB}), who was successful in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. and finished fourth in the G1 1000 Guineas. Bird Key has a yearling filly by Coach House (Ire).

Wednesday, York, Britain
DUKE OF YORK CLIPPER LOGISTICS S.-G2, £125,000, YOR, 5-17, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.74, sf.
1–TASLEET (GB), 134, c, 4, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Bird Key (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(£52,000 Ylg '14 DNPRM). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Jim Crowley. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 10-5-3-0, $485,058. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Magical Memory (Ire), 134, g, 5, Zebedee (GB)–Marasem (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (€23,000 Wlg '12 GOFNOV; €35,000 Ylg '13 GOFORB). O-Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds I; B-Wardstown Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charles Hills. £26,875.
3–Comicas, 134, g, 4, Distorted Humor–Abby's Angel, by Touch Gold. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (KY); T-Charlie Appleby. £13,450.
Margins: 2HF, 1HF, 1HF. Odds: 14.00, 14.00, 25.00.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]
Also Ran: Mobsta (Ire), The Tin Man (GB), Tupi (Ire), Growl (GB), Suedois (Fr), Jungle Cat (Ire), Nameitwhatyoulike (GB), Baccarat (Ire), Brando (GB). Scratched: Final Venture (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.