By Tom Frary
York's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. has often been a significant pointer to some of racing's bigger prizes and there was a lot to like about the way Tony Wechsler and Ann Plummer's Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) put the 2018 renewal to bed in the opening pattern-race of the Ebor meeting on Wednesday. Fresh from riding a five-timer at Yarmouth the evening before, Jamie Spencer allowed the impressive July 29 Wolverhampton novice stakes winner ample time to enter the equation with the pace strong up ahead. Picking up rivals from rear inside the final quarter mile, the 9-2 shot stayed on powerfully switched to the stand's rail to head the 5-2 favourite Watan (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) a furlong from home and assert for a 1 1/2-length success. “I loved him when I rode him at Sandown [when fourth on debut], as he was raw but galloped down to the back straight there,” his rider said. “They went very slow for the first three here and only got racing 3 1/2 out. It's hard to pick up horses off a slow pace at York, so I thought he'd done it well. The step up to a mile will help and he's the biggest horse in the race and has a lot of filling out to do. He's one to look forward to.”
Phoenix of Spain's July 6 Sandown debut which Spencer was referring to was won by TDN Rising Star King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who has yet to race since but whose reputation has enjoyed inflations courtesy of the runner-up Persian Moon (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) and third Topical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}). Persian Moon was in attendance here and was in the firing line alongside the smooth-travelling market-leader Watan, but the imposing grey was able to run them down against the bias. Trainer Charlie Hills is looking at stepping him up again now. “There is a lot of speed on the dam's side, but he has a massive stride and took a while to pull up there so I'm sure a mile is well within his compass this year,” he said. “Jamie [Spencer] didn't think Newmarket would suit all that well, as he is a big heavy horse and also Jamie thought he might not handle the dip there, so although he's in the [G2] Royal Lodge and the [G1] Dewhurst, the [G1] Racing Post Trophy [at Doncaster Oct. 27] could be his race. We'll see how he is. Whether he gets any further than a mile in time, I don't know really and as he's a big horse he probably wouldn't want it too firm.”
The winner was capping a momentous few days for Lope De Vega after his yearlings held sway at Arqana and he was responsible for two TDN Rising Stars in Newspaperofrecord (Ire) and Lone Peak (Fr). He is a full-brother to the dual listed-placed sprinter Lucky Beggar (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) and a half to the pair of middle-distance performers Kingsdesire (Ire) (King's Best) and Central Square (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) who were third in the G3 Dee S. and G3 Royal Whip respectively. The dam Lucky Clio (Ire) (Key of Luck) is a half to Special Kaldoun (Ire) (Alzao) who captured six group races and specialised in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein over a mile which he won on two occasions. The dam's yearling full-brother was bought for a potentially bargain-price €110,000 by Grove Stud at the Goffs November Foal Sale, while her colt foal is by Awtaad (Ire).
Wednesday, York, Britain
TATTERSALLS ACOMB S.-G3, £100,000, York, 8-22, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.19, g/f.
1–PHOENIX OF SPAIN (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Lucky Clio (Ire), by Key of Luck
2nd Dam: Special Lady (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)
3rd Dam: Macedoine (Fr), by King of Macedon (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (78,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Tony Wechsler & Ann Plummer; B-Mrs Cherry Faeste (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jamie Spencer. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $78,715. *1/2 to Central Square (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), GSP-Ire; Kingsdesire (Ire) (King's Best), GSP-Eng; and Lucky Beggar (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), MSP-Eng, $176,842. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Watan (GB), 127, c, 2, Toronado (Ire)–Shotgun Gulch, by Thunder Gulch. O/B-Al Shaqab Racing (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £21,500.
3–Persian Moon (Ire), 127, c, 2, Makfi (GB)–Lune Rose (GB), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€42,000 Wlg '16 GOFNOV; 40,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds X; B-Mrs Louise Quinn (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. £10,760.
Margins: 1HF, 2, 2 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 2.50, 3.30.
Also Ran: Pogo (Ire), Swissterious (GB), Broome (Ire), Ventura Ocean (Ire), James Street (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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