By Tom Frary
One of Mark Johnston's unstintingly progressive staying types, Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) bridged the gap between handicaps and pattern races without a hitch on Saturday as he captured the G3 March S. at Goodwood. Successful in four of his five starts this term including in high-profile contests at Haydock on July 6 and Goodwood on July 31, Paul Dean's admirable chestnut was soon in front with Franny Norton understandably wanting to put it up to his opponents. Tracked throughout by Promissory (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the even-money favourite was narrowly headed two out but regained the advantage quickly en route to a 1 1/4-length success, with Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) adding ballast to the form a further 1 1/2 lengths back in third.
Trainer Mark Johnston's wife and assistant Deirdre said of the winner, who could be G1 St Leger-bound now, “Franny said he just knows that when they start to have a battle he knows they will come out on top. He has a really fantastic attitude. He is a lovely horse and is very uncomplicated. Franny oozed confidence and it was lovely to watch. He stays the trip really well and has certainly gone up another rung on the ladder.”
Pedigree Notes
Sir Ron Priestley is out of the triple listed-placed Reckoning (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), whose third foal is this stable's Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was runner-up in Friday's Listed Stonehenge S. Kin to the GIII My Charmer H. runner-up Hope Cross (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), she is connected to the G1 Gran Criterium winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Coronation Cup hero Soldier of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire), the G1 Dewhurst S. winner Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) and last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy). Her yearling filly is by Muhaarar (GB), while she also has a filly foal by Ulysses (Ire).
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
LADBROKES MARCH S.-G3, £100,000, Goodwood, 8-24, 3yo, 14fT, 3:01.21, gd.
1–SIR RON PRIESTLEY (GB), 128, c, 3, by Australia (GB)
1st Dam: Reckoning (Ire) (MSP-Eng), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Great Hope (Ire), by Halling
3rd Dam: Aspiration (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (70,000gns Ylg '17
TAOCT). O-Mr Paul Dean; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-Mark
Johnston; J-Franny Norton. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-0,
$226,513. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Promissory (Ire), 125, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Seal of Approval
(GB), by Authorized (Ire). (1,100,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-H.
R. H. Princess Haya of Jordan; B-T. R. G. Vestey (IRE); T-John
Gosden. £21,500.
3–Manuela de Vega (Ire), 125, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Roscoff
(Ire), by Daylami (Ire). (€100,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR). O-Waverley
Racing; B-Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett.
£10,760.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 3.50, 3.50.
Also Ran: Blue Gardenia (Ire), Dal Horrisgle (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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