By Tom Frary
Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) and Gerald Mosse are a match made in heaven and the combination were on fire again at Newbury on Saturday as they simply breezed through the G2 Ladyswood Stud Hungerford S. Racing under a three-pound penalty as a result of his win in G2 Lennox S. at Goodwood July 31, the 4-1 shot was waited with in rear as Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) took the field along in the absence of any proven front-runners. As soon as he was given the command, the bay swept by that rival with a furlong to race and on to an authoritative 1 1/4-length success, with the evergreen 2014 winner Breton Rock (Ire) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) a half length back in third. “When I first started riding him, I really expected him to be a superstar and he will keep going,” Mosse said of his latest flame. “He's a lovely horse and I'm not worried about the ground getting softer later in the season, he's just a machine.”
Trainer David Elsworth cuts a legendary figure in flat and jump racing in his native Britain and every few years his genie-like aura inspires one of his charges to reach the heights. Describing Sir Dancealot as a horse he “could bring in to the house to watch television” after his success in the G3 Criterion S. over this trip at Newmarket June 30, the master of Egerton House Stables instead sent him down the road for his next start in the G1 July Cup. Making up ground late to be fourth in that July 14 six-furlong feature, he encountered some trouble in running during the Lennox back over seven but showed the kind of acceleration that will always make him a potent force in this type of race to overhaul Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) late. Since being gelded, he is now unbeaten at this trip and has claims of being the division's leader after this dismissal of smart rivals.
Mosse, who has partnered him on his last three starts, was at his stylish best here as he allowed his mount to saunter along at the back and it took the kind of nerve that the rider of world renown is famous for to allow his rivals first run. What he had was belief in the imposing Sir Dancealot and it all looked so easy once he was sent forward into the thick of the action. “I had traffic problems at Goodwood and I didn't want to risk it today,” Mosse continued. “I just wanted to get him relaxed and when he came I didn't even press hard. He's very good in his mind and only gives you what you ask for. He did it nice and easy like a morning gallop and I kept all his potential for the next race. Wherever he goes, I'll be there.”
Sir Dancealot is the last known foal out of Majesty's Dancer (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who is kin to the GIII Violet H. and GIII Clairwood Christmas H. winner Dancal (Ire) (Mujadil). This is also the family of the G1 Gold Cup and G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Mr Dinos (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) and the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. winner Risk Material (Ire) (Danehill).
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
LADYSWOOD STUD HUNGERFORD S.-G2, £150,000, Newbury, 8-18, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:26.15, gd.
1–SIR DANCEALOT (IRE), 135, g, 4, by Sir Prancealot (Ire)
1st Dam: Majesty's Dancer (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Majesty's Nurse (Ire), by Indian King
3rd Dam: Lagolette, by Green God (Ire)
(€15,000 Wlg '14 GOFNOV; €30,000 Ylg '15 GOFSPT). O-C Benham, D Whitford, L Quinn, K Quinn; B-Vincent Duignan (IRE); T-David Elsworth; J-Gerald Mosse. £85,065. Lifetime Record: 24-8-3-2, $595,137. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dream of Dreams (Ire), 132, c, 4, Dream Ahead–Vasilia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (37,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; £44,000 RNA Ylg '15 DNPRM). O-Saeed Suhail; B-Prostock Ltd (IRE); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £32,250.
3–Breton Rock (Ire), 132, g, 8, Bahamian Bounty (GB)–Anna's Rock (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). (£20,000 Ylg '11 DNPRM). O-John Cook; B-George Kent (IRE); T-David Simcock. £16,140.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, NK. Odds: 4.00, 10.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Tomyris (GB), Gustav Klimt (Ire), Dan's Dream (GB), Yafta (GB), Librisa Breeze (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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