By Tom Frary
Laurens was introduced at this track July 20 and overcame a tardy start to comfortably beat the dual subsequent winner Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) over seven furlongs before taking to Deauville for the G3 Prix du Calvados. Runner-up to the Wertheimers's exciting Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and clear of some smart peers in that seven-furlong test last time Aug. 19, the bay left it late but was able to justify favouritism in a thrilling four-way finish here. One of the first to be niggled at in mid-division as Nyaleti took no prisoners up front in customary fashion, she kept finding for P J McDonald and her lengthy stride saw her work her way past Ballydoyle's Sizzling (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Nyaleti and finally Dark Rose Angel close home. “We've had so much faith in this filly from the start,” the winning jockey said. “She was showing a lot on the gallops earlier in the year and anybody could have got excited, but [trainer] Karl [Burke] had patience. Whatever this filly does this year, I can't wait to ride her next year when she's a three-year-old. I've never ridden a group one winner before, but I'd be shocked if this filly can't make up into one.”
Burke's 2017 campaign gets better each week and Laurens was adding to the group-race successes of Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) and Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) here. “She's a beautiful-natured filly with the looks, the class and the action,” he said. “She was an expensive yearling and you can see why now. [Owner] John [Dance] was nervous and would rather have gone for a listed race and got that black-type win into her, but there weren't too many opportunities and I persuaded him to come here.” Of her future, he added, “She's had a tough race today, so we'll see if she runs again this year. She's not in the [Oct. 1 G1] Prix Marcel Boussac [at Chantilly], but could be supplemented and has the form to go for that. There is the [G1] Fillies' Mile [at Newmarket Oct. 13], which gives her an extra week, so that's possible but if we don't run again this year it won't be the end of the world. There's a long way to go from now until next year and a lot can happen in a racehorse's life in a week, never mind six months but if everything stays together and she's in one piece, then she's very useful. Next year the Prix de Diane will be perfect for her, as she qualifies for the French premiums. She's in all the Guineas, but the Diane is the target I've always had for her. She's the best filly I've had at this stage of her career and she can only get better, as she's still very green.”
Laurens was no bargain purchase for John Dance, who also recently bought the classy 4-year-old filly Aim To Please (Fr) (Excellent Art {GB}) for £340,000 at the Goffs London Sale, which is no surprise given that the dam is a half to the Hong Kong Derby-winning sire Salford Mill (Ire) from the family of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up Shifting Power (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) and G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Kinnaird (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}). The latter is also the dam of the G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Berkshire (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and the second dam of Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) who captured the G2 July S. and G2 Richmond S. and was second in the G1 Middle Park S. and third in the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas.
Thursday, Doncaster, Britain
WILLIAM HILL MAY HILL S.-G2, £70,000, DON, 9-14, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:40.06, g/s.
1–LAURENS (FR), 126, f, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Recambe (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Razana (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Raysiya (Ire), by Cure the Blues
*1st stakes win. (£220,000 Ylg '16 GOUKPR). O-John Dance; B-Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-Karl Burke; J-P J McDonald. £39,697. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 3-2-1-0, $75,051. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dark Rose Angel (Ire), 126, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Roseraie (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (60,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Hussain Alabbas Lootah; B-Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Simon Crisford. £15,050.
3–Nyaleti (Ire), 126, f, 2, Arch–America Nova (Fr), by Verglas (Ire). (40,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-3 Batterhams and a Reay; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. £7,532.
Margins: HD, HD, NK. Odds: 2.75, 14.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Sizzling (Ire), Billesdon Brook (GB), She Believes (Ire), Tajaanus (Ire), Miss Bar Beach (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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