By Sean Cronin
Richard Hannon trainee Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who retains an entry in next month's G1 Lockinge Stakes, continued on the upgrade with a first pattern-race triumph in Tuesday's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket.
Last term's Listed Doonside Cup victor, who hit the board in February's G3 Winter Derby when last seen, was positioned in second for most of this nine-furlong contest. Relishing the rain-softened ground, the 3-1 chance loomed large going ominously well approaching the quarter-mile marker and powered clear up the hill to account for Godolphin duo Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and First Conquest (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths and the same. Last year's G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby placegetter Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) attempted to make all, but lacked the fitness edge of his rivals and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in fourth.
“He's a very good horse with a high cruising speed,” said Hannon. “We wanted to take him to Saudi [Arabia], but that didn't work out, so we stayed for the mile-and-three [G3] Winter Derby and he got there very well and didn't get the trip. If it turns up soft ground, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with him in the Lockinge and a fast-run race would suit him perfectly. He is improving and there's been a lot of interest to buy him, but these horses are hard to make and take a long time to make. It was very soft ground when he ran in the [G1] Champion Stakes last year and a mile-and-a-quarter on that ground just stretches him at the very top level, but I've no doubt he'll get to the top level. We've got a lot of nice horses and we're very hopeful for the year ahead.”
Pedigree Notes
Persica is the first of three live foals and one of two winners from as many runners produced by New Zealand's Listed Champagne Stakes victrix Rubira (Aus) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), herself out of a winning half-sister to Listed Lenebane Stakes winner Royal Intrigue (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}). Royal Intrigue is also kin to the dam of G1 South African Cape Guineas-winning sire Noordhoek Flyer (SAf) (Pivotal {GB}). Perica's fourth dam Congress (Ire) (Dancing Brave) is a full-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Cherokee Rose (Ire). The February-foaled chestnut is kin to a 2-year-old colt by Camelot (GB).
Persica proves too good in the £85,000 G3 @bet365 Earl Of Sefton 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/BUuqo6a8sO
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 15, 2025
Tuesday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 EARL OF SEFTON STAKES-G3, £85,000, Newmarket, 4-15, 4yo/up, 9fT, 1:54.07, g/s.
1–PERSICA (IRE), 128, c, 4, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Rubira (Aus) (SW-NZ), by Lope De Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Duty Bound (Aus), by Ad Valorem
3rd Dam: Promessa (GB), by Reprimand (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (£200,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Martin Hughes & Michael Kerr-Dineen; B-The Applecross Syndicate (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Ryan Moore. £48,204. Lifetime Record: 14-6-0-3, $248,762. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ottoman Fleet (GB), 128, g, 6, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Innevera (Fr), by Motivator (GB). (€290,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 425,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-SCEA Marmion Vauville & Alain Jathiere (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £18,275.
3–First Conquest (GB), 131, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Patroness (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £9,146.
Margins: 2HF, 2HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 2.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Ambiente Friendly (Ire), Lavender Hill Mob (GB).
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