Frankel's Westover Prevails In the Classic Trial

Last year's G3 Sandown Classic Trial was a momentous renewal and Friday's is another to keep a close eye on after a trio of likely types finished clear led home by Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Last seen finishing runner-up in Pontefract's Listed Silver Tankard S. in October, Juddmonte's imposing bay raced freely for Rob Hornby tracking the 6-5 favourite Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) throughout the early stages. Edging ahead a furlong from home, the 5-1 shot was initially wayward but honest enough to give extra and hold off the late surge of the highly promising TDN Rising Star Cash (Ire) (Shamardal) by a short head. Fellow TDN Rising Star Goldspur, whose juvenile form included a win in the G3 Zetland S. and a third placing in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, provided the ballast to the form, a length further away in third. “He's a beast, a serious unit, and we always thought he'd be better at three,” Hornby said. “He had a roll around in front, but got his head down on the line when it mattered. For a big horse, he's pretty well-balanced and is quite light on his feet.”

Westover, whose debut resulted in a success over a mile here in August, was also second to Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in Newbury's renowned Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions S. prior to the Silver Tankard. He had a distinct experience edge over the eye-catching runner-up as a result and Cash's trainer David Simcock was understandably buoyed by the performance of Earle Mack's exciting prospect. “He's come home strong, stayed the 10 furlongs well and showed a good turn of foot,” he said of the second, who had missed the break after proving difficult to load. “We've got a long time to go [until the Derby] and things like having another run first to think about. I'm not going to make any calls now, but it looks like we've got quite a nice horse on our hands and it looks like he'll stay well.”

Pedigree Notes:

Westover is the 10th foal out of Mirabilis (Lear Fan), who captured the GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and was placed in the G1 Prix de la Foret, GII Jenny Wiley S. and GII Buena Vista H. His full-brother Monarchs Glen (GB), who was a disappointing fourth as the odds-on favourite in the 2017 edition of this race, went on to prove that form all wrong with successes in the G3 Darley Club S., Listed Wolferton S. and Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial S. The GII Buena Vista H.-winning second dam Media Nox (GB) (Lycius) is the producer of a former Juddmonte star in Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat), heroine of the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, while the family also features the G2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer Burning Sun (Danzig) and group and graded-stakes winners Mallory (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) and Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy). Also connected to the G3 Earl of Sefton S.-winning sire Phoenix Tower (Chester House), Mirabilis's 2-year-old filly Jalapa (GB) is by Expert Eye (GB).

Friday, Sandown, Britain
BET365 CLASSIC TRIAL-G3, £80,000, Sandown, 4-22, 3yo, 9f 209yT, 2:13.53, gd.
1–WESTOVER (GB), 127, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Mirabilis (GSW-US, SW & G1SP-Fr, $275,664), by Lear Fan
     2nd Dam: Media Nox (GB), by Lycius
     3rd Dam: Sky Love, by Nijinsky II
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Rob Hornby. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $87,385. *Full to Monarchs Glen (GB), GSW-Eng, SW & GSP-US, $464,026. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cash (Ire), 127, c, 3, Shamardal–Lady Rosamunde (GB), by Maria's Mon.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP TYPE. (100,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; £140,000 2yo '21 ARQDEA). O-Earle Mack; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-David Simcock. £17,200.
3–Goldspur (Ire), 127, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Pomology, by Arch. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £8,608.
Margins: NO, 1, 9. Odds: 5.00, 11.00, 1.20.
Also Ran: Franz Strauss (GB), River Thames (Ire), Frantastic (GB). Scratched: Groundbreaker (Ger). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.