By Sean Cronin
Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire} had almost scaled the heights, hitting the board three times at the highest level, and went postward for this marathon coming off a win in the Nov. 2 Listed Floodlit S. at Kempton. Restrained to settle in fourth after racing keenly and prominently early, he was urged closer with three furlongs remaining and stayed on well under a late drive to deny the faltering US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a nose on the line. “He's a very difficult horse and you just can't get there too early with him,” explained winning rider Frankie Dettori. “I came as late as I dared and he still stopped, but the line arrived just in time for him. He's quirky, he's part of the furniture at the stable and we love him. I'm pleased for the horse and he deserves a race like this.”
Friday, Chester, Britain
BOODLES DIAMOND ORMONDE S.-G3, £75,000, CHE, 5-12, 4yo/up, 13f 84yT, 2:52.69, gd.
1–WESTERN HYMN (GB), 126, g, 6, by High Chaparral (Ire)
1st Dam: Blue Rhapsody (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Blue Symphony (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Blue Duster, by Danzig
(50,000gns Ylg '12 TAOCT). O-R J H Geffen & Rachel Hood; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £42,533. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr & MG1SP-Eng, 21-8-3-3, $938,972. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”blandford-bloodstock-purchased-by”]
2–US Army Ranger (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Moonstone (GB), by Dalakhani (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £16,125.
3–Duretto (GB), 129, g, 5, Manduro (Ger)–Landinium (Ity), by Lando (Ger). O/B-Lord Blyth (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £8,070.
Margins: NO, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 2.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Wall of Fire (Ire), Winning Story (GB), Red Verdon, Carbon Dating (Ire), Diamonds Pour Moi (GB), Culmination (GB). Scratched: Cosmelli (Ity), Cymro (Ire), Midterm (GB).
Blue Rhapsody, who has produced just one foal since Western Hymn and none since 2012, is a half-sister to the GIII Modesty H. and G3 Nell Gwyn S. victress Fantasia (GB) (Sadler's Wells), who also placed in the GI Just a Game S., G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She is also a half-sister to G3 Give Thanks S. winner Pink Symphony (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and descends from the G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning champion Blue Duster (Danzig), herself a full-sister to G1 Middle Park S.-winning sire Zieten. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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