By Tom Frary
This renewal was already looking one of the weakest in recent memory before significant rain led to the withdrawal of the likely hot favourite Theobald (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) to rob it of even more gravitas. However, it was Rostropovich who was the first home of an Aidan O'Brien one-two-three that could yet prove to be one of those big improvers his trainer is so famous for and there is the feel that it is only the tip of the iceberg where he is concerned. Even in the absence of the Bolger homebred, the bay hardly had ideal credentials for short-priced favouritism, having finished last of three in a conditions event over this seven-furlong trip at Naas July 8. He had been workmanlike when winning his maiden also at this distance June 25, but he had Ryan Moore's vote of confidence and that was enough for the betting public.
Having to be kept up to his work a long way out in third, the half-brother to the G1 Phoenix S. hero Zoffany (Ire) who broke the million guineas barrier at Tattersalls October took until the last stride to get to stablemate Coat of Arms. His rider was not accepting defeat and he managed to carve out a narrow verdict to suggest his future lies over further, with Berkeley Square bringing up the trifecta for Ballydoyle. “He stayed at it well. He wasn't mad about the ground and will get further than seven,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “On better ground he'll travel better. He was a bit laboured and the [G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien] National Stakes [at The Curragh Sept. 10] is a possible.”
Rostropovich, who was providing his trainer with an 11th renewal as he moves closer to the record of 16 set by his predecessor Dr Vincent O'Brien, is the seventh winner produced by Tyranny. The best is of course the aforementioned Zoffany, who was perhaps best known for giving the multitude of supporters of this colt's sire a major scare in the 2011 G1 St James's Palace S., while there was also this stable's G3 Anglesey S. scorer Wilshire Boulevard (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and the stakes-placed That's Plenty (Ire) (Dr Fong). Tyranny's dam is the G3 Prix de la Nonette winner Dust Dancer, who also produced the GII Lake Placid H. winner Spotlight (GB) (Dr. Fong) and the listed-placed Dusty Answer (GB) (Zafonic) who in turn is the dam of the G2 Oaks d'Italia runner-up Counterclaim (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). This Hesmonds Stud family also features the GIII Hillsborough S. winner and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose MGSW son Ernest Hemingway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was a smart stayer for Ballydoyle and whose daughter also by Frankel, Toulifaut (Ire), won last year's G3 Prix d'Aumale. Tyranny's 2016 filly is by Dubawi (Ire).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GALILEO IRISH EBF FUTURITY S.-G2, €130,000, CUR, 8-20, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.29, sf.
1–ROSTROPOVICH (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Tyranny (GB), by Machiavellian
2nd Dam: Dust Dancer (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
*1st stakes win. (1,100,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Markus Jooste; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. *1/2 to Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Ire, G1SP-Eng & Fr, $523,650; Wilshire Boulevard (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $173,305; and That's Plenty (Ire) (Dr Fong), SP-US, $124,846. €76,700. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $103,200. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Coat of Arms (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–La Traviata, by Johannesburg. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-La Traviata Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €26,000.
3–Berkeley Square (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Homecoming Queen (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). O-Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Homecoming Queen Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €13,000.
Margins: NO, 1 3/4, HD. Odds: 1.35, 7.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Camelback, Swiss Cottage (GB). Scratched: Theobald (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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