By Tom Frary
There was an exciting newcomer in action at Kempton on Monday as Yoshiro Kubota's Dragon Icon (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) made light work of the seven-furlong British EBF Novice S. A full-brother to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and GII Jessamine S. winner and $3million Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale sensation Aunt Pearl (Ire), the Roger Varian-trained bay travelled strongly towards the rear with the anchor down throughout the early stages. Building a head of steam in early straight, the 4-1 shot struck the front passing the furlong pole and stayed on powerfully to score by 3 1/4 lengths from Elnajmm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
“I've not had many horses gallop out past the line the way he did there,” jockey David Egan said. “He is a raw horse that wouldn't have been 100 per-cent tuned up for this today, as it was an educational experience.” The dam, who proved a smart performer in Scandinavia, is also responsible for a yearling filly by Le Havre (Ire) who sold to Mike Ryan for 290,000gns at the recent Book 1 Sale, and a 2022 colt also by Lope De Vega. She is a full-sister to Wekeela (Fr) who captured the G3 Prix Chloe and GIII Matchmaker S. and was second in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, GI Jenny Wiley S. and GI Gamely S. The family features the outstanding Monsun (Ger) and the G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Molly Malone (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}).
6th-Kempton, £14,000, Novice, 11-28, 2yo, 7f (AWT), 1:27.54, st/sl.
DRAGON ICON (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}–Matauri Pearl {Ire} {Champion 3-y-o Filly-Sca, MSP-Nor, SP-Swe, $128,209}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) Sales history: 360,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $9,124. O-Yoshiro Kubota; B-Ecurie des Charmes & Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian.
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