By Sean Cronin
Ralph Beckett trainee Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Matauri Pearl {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire), made a winning debut in Sunday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes at Leicester.
The May-foaled bay, let go as the 2-1 favourite, registered a 1 1/2-length success from Shah (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the straight seven-furlong contest.
2nd-Leicester, £9,000, Nov, 8-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.77, g/f.
MATAURI BAY (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}–Matauri Pearl {Ire} {MSP-Nor & SP-Swe, $128,209}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) broke slowly and recovered to race under cover in a handy fourth after the initial strides of this debut. Angling into the open at halfway, the 2-1 favourite was shaken up to launch his challenge passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly under continued urging to assert by 1 1/2 lengths from Shah (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Matauri Bay is the sixth of seven foals and fifth scorer out of the multiple stakes-placed Scandinavian champion Matauri Pearl (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), herself a full-sister to multiple Grade I-placed G3 Prix Chloe victrix Wekeela (Fr). Descendants of the May-foaled bay's third dam Morning Queen (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}), herself a full-sister to German icon Monsun (Ger), also include G1 Prix du Cadran victrix Molly Malone (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}). Matauri Bay is a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire) and kin to a weanling colt by Frankel (GB). Sales history: 500,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,224.
O-Valmont, Ballylinch & Ecurie des Charmes; B-Ecurie des Charmes & Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett.
Matauri Bay puts in a stylish debut performance to come home in front, winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes for the combination of @HectorCrouch and @RalphBeckett 👏 pic.twitter.com/sfQlxFMMd1
— Leicester Racecourse (@LeicesterRaces) August 11, 2024
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