By Sean Cronin
With Ballydoyle's momentum seemingly relentless on the afternoon's fixture, who else but Joseph O'Brien to step forward and deny a Rosegreen whitewash as he unleashed a live Classic prospect in his own right in Rekindling. Runner-up to Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) over an extended mile at Galway on his racecourse introduction in July, the former David Wachman trainee was successful in a mile maiden at Gowran Park in September which prompted his now-retired handler to try him in a fiercely-contested renewal of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud next time. Last of 13 in that 10-furlong test in late October, the bay put that flop firmly behind him back on home soil as he forged ahead of a proven trio from his father's base in this often-significant Derby pointer.
Settled in mid-division initially by Wayne Lordan off the honest gallop, he was looking for room towards the inner as Douglas Macarthur was committed in early straight. As that rival's stablemate Yucatan failed to slingshot past, it was Rekindling who drove up a gap on the rail to grab the lead with a furlong remaining and stay on strongest of the trio. “He ran a little bit disappointingly in France on very soft ground, but he grew a nice bit in the winter so he might have been a bit weak then,” his jockey said. “He won with his ears pricked and has improved nicely.” Joseph O'Brien added, “We were expecting him to run well, as he'd been working nicely at home. He did a good bit of work last week and we thought he'd be placed, but we didn't think he'd win. He looks like a nice staying horse for this year and at the moment there is no reason why he shouldn't be considered a Derby horse. We'll see how he goes in the next trial.”
Rekindling was bought for a bargain sum as a foal, especially considering that he is a full-brother to another Derby trial winner Golden Sword, who followed his exploits in the G3 Chester Vase with a second in the G1 Irish Derby. Sitara, who has also produced the dam of the dual stakes winner and GII Dance Smartly S. runner-up Julie's Love (GB) (Ad Valorem), is a product of Souk. Descendants of that former listed-placed Luca Cumani trainee include the G2 Lancashire Oaks winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), the G1 English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Magical Romance (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and the G1 Epsom Derby third Masterofthehorse (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Also linked to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and the winner's talented G3 Dance Design S.-winning stablemate Somehow (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Sitara also has a yearling colt by Australia (GB).
Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
P W McGRATH MEMORIAL BALLYSAX S.-G3, €60,000, LEO, 4-8, 3yo, 10fT, 2:08.88, gd/yl.
1–#@REKINDLING (GB), 129, c, 3, by High Chaparral (Ire)
1st Dam: Sitara (GB), by Salse
2nd Dam: Zelding (Ire), by Warning (GB)
3rd Dam: Zelda (Ire), by Caerleon
(60,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA). O-Lloyd J Williams; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan. €35,400. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, €48,333. *Full to Golden Sword (GB), GSW-Eng, G1SP-Ire & GSP-UAE, $774,810. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Douglas Macarthur (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Alluring Park (Ire), by Green Desert. (1,250,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Markus Jooste, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lodge Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €12,000.
3–Yucatan (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Six Perfections (Fr), by Celtic Swing (GB). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €6,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 8.00, 2.00.
Also Ran: Capri (Ire), Dubai Sand (Ire), Grandee (Ire), Brutal (Ire), Legitimus (Ire), Saltonstall (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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