By Tom Frary
One of Royal Ascot's most heavily-backed favourites, Natalie's Joy could only manage seventh in the June 23 Listed Chesham S. tackling seven furlongs for the first time. That overwhelming market support and the financial interest of Merriebelle Stable was due to the bay's six-length debut success in a striking time over this trip at Goodwood May 26 and she was looking to get back on track here. Sent straight to the lead by Frankie Dettori, she looked set for a tussle as Chuck Willis loomed inside the final quarter mile but pulled away from the furlong pole for an ultimately authoritative win.
Trainer Mark Johnston revealed that Natalie's Joy has taken him by surprise. “She has got her listed win now, which is great. Half of her changed hands before Ascot, so it is nice for the new owners to secure the value,” he said. “Hopefully it is onwards and upwards. She is not one you would be expecting to be nearly breaking track records at Goodwood so early on in her life. We group them at home into four groups at the beginning of the season, when we expect them to run. Group one is March/April, then May/June, July/August and September/October. She was in group three, so a July/August horse. We were just surprised as she kept beating things earlier and earlier. You just hope she has as much scope as she looks to have. Everything says she should get better with time.” Of the Ascot flop, he added, “We thought the sky was the limit, as everyone did. At one point she was the highest-rated two-year-old in Britain, never mind filly. We were all thinking very big things. She came unstuck at Ascot and this was the first step of getting back on track. The [G3] Princess Margaret [S. at Ascot July 28] was the target with or without a run in between–if there was to be a run, it was to be here. Frankie has put another idea in the mix and I will take that home.” Dettori revealed his idea afterwards. “There is a Group Three race in France [the Prix du Calvados at Deauville Aug. 18] over seven furlongs which I suggested, but all options are open,” he commented. “It was my first time on her, but she gave me a good impression. She is a nice, tall filly with a lot of scope. Mark said everything went wrong over seven last time, but I got off and I think seven will be just about right. She outstayed them at the end today over six and I think she will go back to seven.”
The dam, whose daughter Annie's Fortune (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) was third in the G3 Oh So Sharp S., also has a yearling colt by Lethal Force (Ire). She is out of the G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning European champion 2-year-old filly Blue Duster (Danzig), a sister to the G1 Middle Park S.-winning sire Zieten who is also the second dam of the G3 Nell Gwyn S. and GIII Modesty H. scorer Fantasia (GB) (Sadler's Wells), also placed in the GI Just a Game S. and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING ROSE BOWL S.-Listed, £25,500, Newbury, 7-20, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.19, g/f.
1–NATALIE'S JOY (GB), 121, f, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Semaphore (GB), by Zamindar
2nd Dam: Blue Duster, by Danzig
3rd Dam: Blue Note (Fr), by Habitat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (35,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Merriebelle Stable & Mr S. Chappell; B-Moyns Park Estate and Stud Ltd (GB); T-Mark Johnston; J-Frankie Dettori. £14,461. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $27,771.
2–Chuck Willis (Ire), 126, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Xinji (Ire), by Xaar (GB). (€55,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR). O-Chelsea Thoroughbreds – Shake of Sheikh. £5,483.
3–Emaraaty Ana (GB), 126, c, 2, Shamardal–Spirit of Dubai (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-Mr Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh. £2,744.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 12.00, 1.85.
Also Ran: Barbill (Ire), Lihou (GB). Scratched: Typhoon Ten (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
