By Tom Frary
Dundalk, €15,000, Mdn, 4-24, 2yo, 6f (AWT), 1:14.20, st.
FORT MYERS (c, 2, War Front–Marvellous {Ire} {G1SW-Ire, $262,665}, by Galileo {Ire}), a son of the stable's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine, was 1-2 to make it three winners from three juvenile runners from Ballydoyle in 2019 and looked sharp from the outset gaining a prominent position and a lead. Working his way to the front with a furlong remaining, the bay stayed on to score by a half length from Never Before (Ire) (No Nay Never). Donnacha O'Brien said, “I like him. He was a bit greener than the last two [juvenile winners] and was just a bit raw in front, but once he got the hang of it he impressed me. Seven furlongs will be no problem.” Marvellous is a full-sister to four group winners headed by Gleneagles (Ire), hero of the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas, the G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and now a first-season sire who is sure to make a big impact this year. Her other full-siblings Happily (Ire) captured the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and was placed in two Guineas, while Taj Mahal (Ire) was successful in two renewals of the G2 Sandown Classic and Coolmore (Ire) took the G3 C.L. & M.F. Weld Park S. and was third in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. They are all out of the remarkable You'resothrilling (Storm Cat), the full-sister to Giant's Causeway who captured the G2 Cherry Hinton S. before going on to broodmare stardom. Marvellous's 2018 colt is also a War Front, after which she was bred to Quality Road. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,375. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien.
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