By Tom Frary
Delivered in the nick of time by the week's second jockey sensation Danny Tudhope, Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) overhauled Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) late on to land Saturday's G3 Jersey S. and provide his rider with a fourth Royal Ascot success from only four days of action. Breaking slowly and held up in rear, the 25-1 shot benefitted from the fast pace and responded to some whip strokes to pass Godolphin's TDN Rising Star in the last 50 yards and win by a head, with Angel's Hideaway (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “He's been consistent and is very talent, but tricky to win with,” Tudhope said. “He has a tremendous amount of ability and I'm glad he's done it on the big stage. He didn't travel great and never felt like a horse who was going to pick up and go and win the race. He was a bit lazy at halfway, so I had to make his mind up and when he got out in the clear, he ran on nice. To win a race at Royal Ascot in these colours is amazing. It's been an amazing week for me and I can't describe it.”
Two-for-two before running seventh in York's G2 Gimcrack S. in August, Space Traveller improved off that to be second in the G3 Prix Eclipse at Maisons-Laffitte before flopping in a first-time visor when eighth in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in September. With blinkers on for the Listed Rockingham S. at York a fortnight later, the magic failed to come again and after finishing a non-threatening seventh was given a winter break. On his return in the Listed European Free H. over this trip at Newmarket Apr. 16, the bay split Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Azano (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) before filling third spot in the six-furlong Listed Carnarvon S. at Newbury May 18 and finishing an unlucky seventh in the 6 1/2-furlong Listed Prix de l'Office de Tourisme de Maisons-Laffitte June 8. At the back after a tardy start, he was given a backhander before the two-furlong marker with Tudhope asking for a genuine response with the pressure beginning to tell on those who had raced near the teeth of the strong tempo. As he angled wide around rivals, Space Traveller picked up with a flourish to deny the smooth-travelling and perfectly-delivered Space Blues and upset the Godolphin momentum.
Trainer Richard Fahey revealed that owner Steve Parkin had given riding tips over the phone in the morning. “Steve never gets involved in instructions, but I had a long chat with him this morning and he wanted him ridden him cold,” he said. “He said drop him right out and ride him for luck and it's paid off. It's a shame he isn't here, but he had a very important meeting and had to go home. When you win a race like this, the [G2] Lennox Stakes [at Goodwood July 30] looks the obvious race, but I've got to sit down with Steve and the team at Clipper.”
“I really liked him early on and thought he'd win the Gimcrack, but he didn't run a race at all and has had a few little blips in his life,” Fahey continued. “He's a likeable rogue and has bounced back to what we thought he might be. He was very disappointing, but he's got himself back on track now and I'm sure the seven furlongs has helped. He might even get a bit further.”
Charlie Appleby said of Space Blues, “I think we'll end up coming back down in trip with Space Blues. He just has an abundance of pace. He quickened up there and I thought he was going to put the race to bed. We can take nothing away from the winner, as he has outbattled us. James said that Space Blues still galloped out to the line, but I think a drop back in trip will be the plan now. Something like the [G1] Prix Maurice de Gheest [at Deauville Aug. 4] could be an option.”
Cheveley Park Stud's racing manager Chris Richardson said of Angel's Hideaway, “She is a filly that thrives on racing. She is her own character and she did everything right today. She jumped as she did in the 1000 Guineas and if she wants to do, she'll do it.”
Space Traveller's dam Sky Crystal (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}), who also produced the G3 Dick Poole S. third Pellucid (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), was sold by Watership Down Stud for 66,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She is a granddaughter of Crystal Spray (GB) (Beldale Flutter {GB}), whose four group winners are headed by the G1 Fillies' Mile heroine and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. runner-up Crystal Music (Nureyev) and the G3 Lancashire Oaks scorer State Crystal (Ire) (High Estate {Ire}). The latter's descendants include the G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Zelzal (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the G2 Chairmans H. winner and G1 Sydney Cup runner-up Libran (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). Sky Crystal also has Space Traveller's full-sister Rubia Bella (GB), who was runner-up for the David Simcock stable a month ago, a yearling filly by Exceed and Excel (Aus) and a filly foal by Postponed (Ire).
Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
JERSEY S.-G3, £90,000, Ascot, 6-22, 3yo, 7fT, 1:24.57, gd.
1–SPACE TRAVELLER (GB), 127, c, 3, by Bated Breath (GB)">Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: Sky Crystal (Ger), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Snow Crystal (Ire), by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Crystal Spray (GB), by Beldale Flutter
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (85,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Clipper Logistics; B-El Catorce Partnership (GB); T-Richard Fahey; J-Daniel Tudhope. £51,039. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 10-3-2-1, $119,142. *1/2 to Pellucid (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Space Blues (Ire), 127, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Miss Lucifer (Fr), by Noverre. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £19,350.
3–Angel's Hideaway (Ire), 124, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–The Hermitage (Ire), by Kheleyf. (€390,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-Yeomanstown Stud & Doc Bloodstock (IRE); T-John Gosden. £9,684.
Margins: HD, 1HF, 1. Odds: 25.00, 2.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Urban Icon (GB), Duke of Hazzard (Fr), Momkin (Ire), Happy Power (Ire), Marie's Diamond (Ire), So Perfect, Masaru (GB), Dubai Dominion (GB), I Am Superman (Ire), Bye Bye Hong Kong, No Nonsense (GB), On a Session, Fire Fly (Ire), Air Hair Lair (Ire), Western Frontier. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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