By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien matched jockey Sir Gordon Richards' record haul and extended his own trainers' record, as 15-8 favourite Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) pounced wide and late to secure a ninth edition for the trainer in Tuesday's G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. The bay was tenderly handled when second tackling six furlongs at The Curragh in his May 6 debut and obliterated eight rivals when streaking to an eight-length score back over the same course and distance in his only other start last time May 26. Racing off the pace in the far-side group of nine from the outset, he was scrubbed along approaching the final quarter mile and kept on relentlessly under a final-furlong drive to outpoint 4-1 market rival Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) by a half-length in the dying strides with 6-1 chance Guildsman (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) a neck further back in third.
“I'm delighted with him and Ryan gave him a great ride,” O'Brien said. “He was very green first time out and then won very easily next time, but probably didn't learn a lot because of that so this is the first day that he has had to learn. He was a little bit slow away and a little bit lost through the race, but came home really well. He obviously has loads of speed or he wouldn't be able to win like that, but we always thought he would be a horse who would have no problem getting seven furlongs. He could sharpen up a lot from that, but even if he does seven furlongs should be fine. He's a fine, big horse and we'll look forward to next year. He's probably quicker than he lets on because he's still a baby, but he'd have no problem getting seven and a mile next year. He was eligible for the [seven-furlong Listed] Chesham and we'd have had no problem running him in it.” Moore added, “Arizona has impressed me in all his starts and I think he is a high-class colt. He has a super attitude, but is not fully switched on yet and will probably benefit when he steps up in trip. He has come out of a maiden so this was a different tempo and you would have to be pleased with what he has done today.”
Richard Hannon was not too downhearted after Threat lost his unbeaten record and commented, “We came here today to learn if he was a very good horse and that is exactly what we learned. He is a good colt and we can't wait for the rest of the year with him. He saw the trip out well and is the sort of horse who will come out of the race fine. He is strong and mature and, hopefully, we can win a Group 1 with him at some stage this season.” In-form conditioner Archie Watson was thrilled with the performance of the similarly hitherto unbeaten Guildsman and said, “I was delighted with Guildsman. They have probably gone very quick in front and they have set the race up for the closers. I thought Threat's run in second was full of merit on the other side of the track, but I couldn't be happier with my lad. There is a very defined path for horses like him. He is a ready made 2-year-old and we will be looking for races like the [July 11 G2] July S. [at Newmarket] and the [Aug. 1 G2] Richmond S. [at Goodwood] with him. I don't need to be very clever with him.”
Arizona, half-brother to a yearling filly by Estidhkaar (Ire), is the fourth known foal and lone winner out of a half-sister to G3 Premio Guido Berardelli victor Fathayer (Volponi) and to the dam of MG1SW sire Dabirsim (Fr) (Hat Trick {Jpn}). His second dam is G1 Oaks d'Italia heroine and G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Bright Generation (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), whose many siblings include Centinela (GB) (Caerleon), herself the dam of Listed Premio Terme di Merano victress Holy Moon (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}), who in turn produced a swathe of black-type performers including last term's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), G2 Oaks d'Italia victress Cherry Collect (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), G1 Premio Lydia Tesio and G2 Oaks d'Italia winners Charity Line (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) and Final Score (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and G2 Derby Italiano second Back on Board (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
COVENTRY S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-18, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.02, gd.
1–ARIZONA (IRE), 127, c, 2, by No Nay Never">No Nay Never
1st Dam: Lady Ederle, by English Channel
2nd Dam: Bright Generation (Ire), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: New Generation (Ire), by Young Generation (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (65,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA; €260,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Stephen Sullivan (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $124,493. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Threat (Ire), 127, c, 2, Footstepsinthesand (GB)">Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Flare of Firelight, by Birdstone. (100,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-La Lumiere Partnership (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £32,250.
3–Guildsman (Fr), 127, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Dardiza (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (€67,000 Ylg '18 AROYRG; €125,000 2yo '19 ARQMA). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Archie Watson. £16,140.
Margins: HF, NK, 1. Odds: 1.85, 4.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Fort Myers, Golden Horde (Ire), Ropey Guest (GB), Royal Lytham (Fr), Maxi Boy (GB), Well of Wisdom (GB), Kuwait Direction (Ire), Makyon (Ire), Lord of The Lodge (Ire), King of Athens, Majestic Sands (Ire), Light Angel (GB), Monoski, Coase (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
