By Tom Frary
Given his profile, Ballylinch Stud's Waldgeist (GB) was never going to be producing early 2-year-old winners but the Arc-winning son of Galileo's time came fittingly at the start of September as his daughter Billiegee (Ire) got him off the mark in Wolverhampton's At The Races App Form Study Restricted Maiden Fillies' S. After an encouraging debut second over seven furlongs at Kempton in August, the James Ferguson-trained €21,000 Goffs Autumn Sale graduate was made the 11-8 favourite moving up more than 1 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta here and enjoyed the perfect draft early under Daniel Muscutt. With stamina coming to the fore in the straight, there was only going to be one winner and after she had overhauled Really Darn Hot (Ger) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) with 150 yards remaining she proved tough to score by a head.
The dam Donau (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), whose son of Make Believe (GB) sells at the imminent Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, is a daughter of the G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up Dapprima (Ger) (Shareef Dancer). She was responsible for the trio of black-type winners Davidoff (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}), Denaro (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}) and Duellant (Ire) (Dashing Blade {GB}) and also the listed-placed Dubai (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who in turn produced the Listed Prix Joubert winner and G3 Prix Andre Baboin third Alakhana (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}).
2nd-Wolverhampton, £6,600, Mdn, 9-1, 2yo, f, 8f 142y (AWT), 1:51.90, st.
BILLIEGEE (IRE) (f, 2, Waldgeist {GB}–Donau {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) Sales history: 25,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; €26,000 RNA Ylg '22 GOFOR; €21,000 Ylg '22 GOAUYR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $7,704.
O-Hasmonean Racing & Marnie Cleary; B-Donau Partnership & Waldeist Syndicate (IRE); T-James Ferguson.
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