Bated Breath's Daahyeh Prevails in the Albany

   Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa's Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) posted a 1 3/4-length debut score in the Fawzi Abdulla Nass silks over six furlongs at Newmarket last month, beating Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. heroine Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}), and duly justified the weight of ring support to maintain her perfect record in Friday's G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot. Favouring the stands' side group after breaking in the centre of the track, the crowd's 4-1 pick pick was comfortable in mid division through the early strides. Angling back to the centre for a clear path approaching the quarter-mile marker, she pounced for control with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and found plenty under a drive once joined, and headed briefly, by Celtic Beauty (Ire) (No Nay Never) either side of the eighth pole to deny that rival by 1 1/2 lengths. “Today was the first time she was in a scrap, but she looked a good winner at the line and it was lovely to see her do it like that,” said Roger Varian after claiming a first Royal winner of the week and third overall. The trainer, who also won this with Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor) in 2014, continued, “She is promising, looking ahead to the future, she got the trip really well and it looks like she'll stay seven furlongs on the back of that. David [Egan] is making good strides, he has a good head on his shoulders and is one of the best young riders around. He's not the finished article yet, but he has not done much wrong today. The owners have been loyal to him as he rode the horse first time out, he'll get his chances throughout the year and he took it today.”
   It was a maiden Royal triumph for Egan, the 2017 champion apprentice who turned 20 on Wednesday, and the rider was caught in a wave of emotion, saying, “I'm sorry, I'm getting a bit emotional, but I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point and it's a big step in my career. Everyone has worked hard for me through my whole life and it is great to thank them on these big days. She didn't jump so well first time out, but she did today and we soon settled into a good position. Approaching the two-furlong marker, I could see things were getting a bit tight in front of me and I was glad I just took her back and then to the outside to get her to pick up. She had to battle inside the final furlong, but when I picked up my whip she really battled and hit the line strong. She's a very nice filly and will definitely stay further. On this ground, I knew she wouldn't do anything instantly–it's probably just a bit dead for her today–but she's done it well. I felt pressure before the race, but once I was on her it was just like another race. I would like to thank the owners and Mr Varian for giving me opportunities on the big stages. I am just delighted I can repay the loyalty of the owners and my trainer and this could be at the top of my career for now. My grandfather Dessie Hughes was a big person in my life and this one is for him.”
   Connections of second Celtic Beauty (Ire) (No Nay Never) and 100-1 third Aroha (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) were far from downhearted by the result with the former's trainer Ken Condon explaining, “She has been coming forward with every run, she is by a very good sire and the drying ground helped us. I would say if it was even drier she might have lasted home. She has a lot of pace and natural ability and, unfortunately, didn't last home. She has run with great credit and we are delighted with her. She is a lovely filly and the first two had the race between them. There are lots of options going forward, she will be entered up in all the big races and we will see how she comes out of it, but there is more to come.” Rider Billy Lee added, “Celtic Beauty has run a great race, she travelled beautifully and took me there on the bridle. We went to win the race, but were beaten by a very good filly.” Reflecting on the performance of Aroha, trainer Brian Meehan said, “I took her to Bath and she came back from there very off colour and she had a good ten days off as she wasn't herself at all. We had gone there thinking she would win easily and the target was always to come here so we stuck with our guns. I am really pleased that we have and we can now plan a wonderful campaign for her for the rest of the year. She has the biggest of hearts and, if she had been on the stands' side, I think she might have won. It is a month since she has run, and I will stick to that [progression]. The [Aug. 22 G2] Lowther S. [at York] or the [Sept. 28 G1] Cheveley Park S. [at Newmarket] come to mind.”
   Daahyeh, half-sister to a yearling colt by Al Kazeem (GB) and a 2019 colt by Ribchester (Ire), is one of two winners and the leading performer produced by a winning half to four black-type performers headed by GSW sire Deportivo (GB) (Night Shift) and GSW G1 Prix de la Foret runner-up So Beloved (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Her second dam Valencia (GB) (Kenmare {Fr}) is kin to five stakes performers including MGISW US champion Wandesta (GB) (Nashwan) and GSW G1 Cononation Cup third De Quest (GB) (Rainbow Quest).

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
ALBANY S.-G3, £90,000, Royal Ascot, 6-21, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:14.05, g/s.
1–DAAHYEH (GB), 126, f, 2, by Bated Breath (GB)">Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: Affluent (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Valencia (GB), by Kenmare (Fr)
3rd Dam: De Stael, by Nijinsky II
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£75,000 Ylg '18 GOUKPR). O-HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa; B-D J & Mrs Deer (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $71,091. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Celtic Beauty (Ire), 126, f, 2, No Nay Never">No Nay Never–Keystone Gulch, by Gulch. (€52,000 Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-David K Kelly; B-Lynch Bages (IRE); T-Ken Condon. £19,350.
3–Aroha (Ire), 126, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Surrey Storm (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (€68,000 Wlg '17 GOFNOV; £45,000 RNA Ylg '18 GOUKPR). O-Anna Sundstrom & Robert Sinclair; B-Ballinacurra Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Brian Meehan. £9,684.
Margins: 1HF, 1, 1. Odds: 4.00, 25.00, 100.00.
Also Ran: Alabama Whitman (GB), Precious Moments (Ire), Lil Grey (Ire), Lorelei Rock (Ire), Silent Wave (GB), Diligent Deb (Ire), Back To Brussels (Ire), So Wonderful, Chili Petin, Nayibeth, Galadriel (GB), Separate (GB), Fleeting Princess (GB), Exclusively (GB), Kemble (Ire), Exceptional (GB), Seraphinite (Ire), Get the Look (Ire), Graceful Magic (GB), JM Jackson (Ire), Moon of Love (Ire), Last Surprise (Ire). Scratched: Paper Star (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.