By Tom Frary
Proving yet another British raider capable of upstaging the French juveniles, Barbara Keller's colour-bearer Comedy (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) made all to capture Sunday's G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg at Deauville. Entering her first black-type examination on the back of a smooth Doncaster novice stakes success, the 8-1 shot was following on from the fellow Karl Burke-trained G3 Prix du Bois scorer Little Kim (GB) (Garswood {GB}), benefitting from the stand's rail and giving generously to Ben Curtis en route to a two-length verdict over compatriot Kodyanna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). “This filly has improved with every run and even when she won her first race she had not yet come to herself,” her rider said. “She took a while to get there in her coat and we had to find out about this ground, as she did it well on quick ground in Britain. She is obviously very versatile and I had the rail and the best position.”
Comedy, who is part-owned by David Redvers and Alastair Donald, had won her two novice races over this trip at Pontefract June 11 and Doncaster June 29 by a cumulative margin of five lengths, with the latter performance particularly noteworthy after the runner-up Star Terms (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) went on to win. Burke, who also took the 2017 G1 Prix Morny and G2 Prix Robert Papin with Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) and the 2018 G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Saint-Alary with Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), was reflecting on the sequence afterwards. “We're having a good run and long may it continue,” he said. “Until about 9.30am on Friday this filly was going to run in the Princess Margaret at Ascot. Then we saw this race was breaking up and we felt she had a better chance of getting black-type in France. She's done it well and Ben gave her a lovely ride. I don't know how good the form is, but I know Richard [Fahey] likes his filly [Kodyanna]. Our filly is progressive and she does have a high cruising speed. She broke the juvenile track record at Doncaster with a penalty, so she's obviously useful. How far she can go I'm not sure, but we'll find out.”
Comedy is the second foal and second winner for Dubaya (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a half-sister to the listed-placed Ghimaar (GB) (Dubai Destination). The third dam Foulard (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) is a full-sister to the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning sire Barathea (Ire) and the G1 Irish One 1000 Guineas and G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Gossamer (Ire), herself in turn the dam of the G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Ibn Khaldun (Dubai Destination). This is Gerald Leigh's family of the G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Brocade (GB) (Habitat) and the stakes-producing GIII Countess Fager H. scorer Free At Last (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). Dubaya's yearling colt is by Battle of Marengo (Ire), while she produced a filly by Elzaam (Aus) this year.
Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX DE CABOURG-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 7-29, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.82, g/s.
1–COMEDY (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Dandy Man (Ire)
1st Dam: Dubaya (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Charlecote (Ire), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Foulard (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€21,000 Ylg '17 GOFSPT). O-Keller, Redvers & Donald; B-John Hutchinson (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Ben Curtis. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, €48,603. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kodyanna (Ire), 122, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Jadanna (Ire), by Mujadil. (£180,000 Ylg '17 GOUKPR). O-The Cool Silk Partnership; B-Mount Armstrong Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. €16,000.
3–We Go (Fr), 126, c, 2, No Nay Never–Encore Merci (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€22,000 Ylg '17 ARAUG). O-Mme Jacques Cygler; B-Aleyrion Bloodstock Ltd (FR); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. €12,000.
Margins: 2, 1 3/4, SNK. Odds: 7.70, 2.30, 4.90.
Also Ran: Wind Test (GB), Glory Fighter (GB), Double Kodiac (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
