Nathaniel's Quickthorn Makes All In York's Lonsdale

Shorn of its main protagonists Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in the build-up, the complexion of Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup may have changed since declaration time, but nonetheless played host to a performance of note as Lady Blyth's 5-year-old gelding Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}–Daffydowndilly {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) stepped into the void, leading his rivals a merry dance throughout, and registered a pillar-to-post victory in the Knavesmire's extended two-mile test. The March-foaled bay, who lined up off victories in the G3 Henry II S. and G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, led passing the judge first time and had established a wide-margin buffer by the time the field turned onto the backstraight. Untroubled throughout, the 9-4 second choice's lead proved to be an unassailable one as he hit the line, geared down, in a different postcode to the remainder. His margin of superiority was a facile 14 lengths as 5-4 favourite Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) just held on for second, by a short head, from Reshoun (Fr) (Shamardal).

“I'm pretty blown away by him and, when I pulled up in France, I felt like I had a couple of gears left, but ultimately on these stayers you might be kidding yourself a bit,” said rider Tom Marquand. “I could have broken his stride, but he's an exuberant stayer with a full tank under him and we went steady enough that he doesn't overcook it. I knew I'd stretched away down the back, I gave him a flick at the two [furlong pole] as he was looking at the crowd. I heard the commentary and looked at the big screen and was able to take a sit. You almost wish the big guns were here to see what might have happened and he also did it on ground that was probably quicker than ideal. I'm hugely excited for what the future might hold as he's only just getting going.”

Quickthorn, half to a weanling by Bated Breath (GB), is one of five winners from six runners out of Daffydowndilly (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself a multiple-winning daughter of stakes-winning G3 Lillie Langtry S. second Art Eyes (Halling). His fourth dam, Listed Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial victrix Kotama (Shahrastani), is a half-sister to Listed Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Khanata (Riverman) and to the dam of G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire High Chaparral (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Descendants of Kotama also include G1 Queensland Derby third Heidilicious (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Friday, York, Britain
WEATHERBYS HAMILTON LONSDALE CUP S.-G2, £250,000, York, 8-19, 3yo/up, 16f 56yT, 3:28.20, g/f.
1–QUICKTHORN (GB), 131, g, 5, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Daffydowndilly (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Art Eyes, by Halling
3rd Dam: Careyes (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
O-Lady Blyth; B-Lemington Grange Stud (GB); T-Hugh Morrison; J-Tom Marquand. £141,775. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 16-7-3-1, $543,482. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Coltrane (Ire), 131, g, 5, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Promise Me (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (50,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Mick & Janice Mariscotti; B-Rockfield Farm (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £53,750.
3–Reshoun (Fr), 131, g, 8, Shamardal–Radiyya (Ire), by Sinndar (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€75,000 3yo '17 ARJUN; 30,000gns RNA 5yo '19 TATAHI). O-Dr Marwan Koukash; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Ian Williams. £26,900.
Margins: 14, SHD, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.25, 1.25, 25.00.
Also Ran: Tashkhan (Ire), Mostly Cloudy (Ire), Nate The Great (GB). Scratched: Stradivarius (Ire), Trueshan (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Oh @TomMarquand that's a naughty ride

A seismic performance from Quickthorn who is relentless & remorseless as he hacks up in the £250,000 G2 @WbysHamilton Lonsdale Cup for Hughie Morrison pic.twitter.com/pFwjPqq3So

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 19, 2022