Teofilo's Permian Battles to King Edward VII Success

   Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) weakened to finish tenth in the June 3 G1 Epsom Derby after beating subsequent G3 Hampton Court S. hero Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in last month's G2 Dante S. at York, and his aptitude for a battle was in evidence once again as he delivered another Royal winner for trainer Mark Johnston in Friday's G2 King Edward VII S. at Ascot. Positioned in a prominent second after William Buick steadily angled his mount across the track from a wide gate, the 6-1 chance was stoked up on the home turn to seize control at the top of the straight and he kept on ruggedly under a final-quarter drive to bravely hold Khalidi (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) by a half length, with Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) becoming yet another placegetter for the Sir Michael Stoute team a further 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third. “Mark [Johnston] gave me a lot of confidence beforehand, in the sense that he just wanted the horse to go forward and get across,” explained Buick after registering his third win of the week. “I wanted to go forward without asking him too much and the horse did exactly that. You don't want to be travelling too wide around here and he got a nice pitch when they steadied the tempo down. Mark and the team were surprised how bad he ran in the Derby and I wasn't any help as I had no explanation either. He certainly felt like a much better horse today and it was a good performance.”

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £225,000, ASC, 6-23, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:30.10, g/f.
1–PERMIAN (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Tessa Reef (Ire) (MSW-Fr), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Massaraat, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Pasadoble, by Prove Out
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-William Buick. £127,598. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-2, $374,105. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Khalidi (GB), 126, c, 3, High Chaparral (Ire)–Bezique (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (170,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Nizar Anwar; B-Aston House Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. £48,375.
3–Crystal Ocean (GB), 126, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Crystal Star (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £24,210.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 6.00, 10.00, 2.25.
Also Ran: Raheen House (Ire), Glencadam Glory (GB), Call To Mind (GB), Salouen (Ire), Frankuus (Ire), Sir John Lavery (Ire), Best Solution (Ire), Intern (Ire), Best of Days (GB). Scratched: Wolf Country (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
   Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's bay was second to Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Epsom's Apr. 26 Investec Derby Trial before adding the May 6 Listed Newmarket S. to a resume which now reads six wins from a dozen starts. He is not the first to bounce back from a 10th in the Derby to win this “Ascot Derby” as the feat had already been achieved by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained duo Papal Bull (GB) in 2006 and Across the Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) last year.
   Khalidi fared worse than Permian at Epsom, finishing 14th, and he too bounced back here. John Gosden was understandably delighted with his performance and said, “He ran a great race and I am thrilled with him. He's had a lot of racing, as has the winner, and both have run exceptional races for horses who have been so busy. We'll see where we are and where we go from here, but he's a real tough cookie. It was difficult in the race for Olivier [Peslier] to get where he wanted to get. The winner had first run on us, but Khalidi has run his heart out and done nothing wrong at all. It was a great performance.” Peslier added, “He has run well, but we just could not get there and the line came too soon.”
   Sir Michael Stoute remains tied atop Royal Ascot's all-time leaderboard with Sir Henry Cecil on 75 winners after yet another placing this week, but he was nonetheless happy with the run of Crystal Ocean. “It was a good run and it shows he is consistent,” said the Newmarket-based conditioner. “He is a horse with a lot of scope and will progress.” Crystal Ocean's rider Andrea Atzeni added, “The pace was a bit to slow, but it was good run and he is improving. He is a horse for the future.”
   Permian is a son of the dual stakes winner Tessa Reef (Ire) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) and is a half-brother to Listed Wolferton H. second Second Wave (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), the three-time stakes placegetter Samana Cay (Authorized {Ire}) and a yearling colt by New Approach (Ire). Tessa Reef is a daughter of Listed Prix Amandine victress Massaraat (Nureyev), herself a full-sister to the storied MG1SW multiple champion Miesque, who in turn produced MG1SW sire Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector), MG1SW European highweight East of the Moon (Private Account) and the GSW sires Miesque's Son (Mr. Prospector) and Mingun (A.P. Indy). Massaraat is also kin to the unraced dam of MG1SW European champion Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}).