Classic winner War Of Will returns to winning ways in Maker’s Mark
Last year’s G1 Preakness S. winner War Of Will (USA) (War Front {USA}) became the latest dual surface Grade 1 winner on Friday with a win in the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile S. on the Keeneland turf.
Switched to the turf for his 4-year-old season, the colt was looking for his first win since last year’s classic victory here.
Breaking from the farthest post, the colt raced in third as High Crime (USA) (Violence {USA}) set the pace in the 1600 metre turf race. That horse opened a few lengths on the rest of the field with Parlor (USA) (Lonhro) the best of the rest and War Of Will racing two paths from the rail close behind him.
Racing strongly under Tyler Gaffalione, War Of Will inched up on the leader around the turn as High Crime came back to the field. There was still plenty of ground for War Of Will to make up with 300 metres left as Parlor took over the lead from a fading High Crime, who would ultimately finish eighth.
It looked like Parlor would be the winner with 75 metres to go but War Of Will was gaining with every step and surged quickly in the final strides to stick his nose in front at the wire. In a dramatic finish, Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was a neck behind that duo in third with Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) 0.5l behind him in fourth and two others within 0.5l of that finisher.
“It’s great for everybody. We’re just so excited. Tyler gave him a tremendous ride,” said trainer Mark Casse. “I wasn’t sure [if he won], I wasn’t sure until they put [his number] up. [Wife] Tina and I were just jumping up and down. It means so much to the horse. We love him so much. And [being a Grade 1 winner on dirt and turf] means so much for a stallion prospect and everything. Everyone knows how much we love him, and it’s so wonderful.”
Grade 1-placed on turf in his second start, War Of Will raced solely on the dirt as a 3-year-old after sweeping the first two legs of the Fair Grounds’ Kentucky Derby prep race series. Third in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby last fall.
He is one of three stakes winners out of Listed winning Visions Of Clarity (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) with Group 1-winning half-brother Pathfork (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) also Ireland’s Champion 2-Year-Old in 2010.
Visions Of Clarity is a half-sister to Champion racehorse and successful sire Spinning World (USA) and the granddam of Australian Group 3 winner Global Balance (Redoute’s Choice) and Royal Ascot Group 2 third One Chance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Nazeef secures first Group 1 in Falmouth
Providing her sire the first half of a stakes double on Friday, Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) won her sixth straight start in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket.
Continuing her 1600 metre success three and a half weeks after winning at Royal Ascot, the Shadwell homebred broke strongly under regular rider Jim Crowley and raced in a relaxed second behind Terebellum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) with Agincourt (Ire) (Declaration Of War {USA}) at her hip in third.
Terebellum opened up a few length lead with her ears pricked and looked to have the race well in hand with 600 metres left to run with the rest of the field under pressure. The tide quickly changed, however, when Frankie Dettori asked the leader for more and she couldn’t accelerate fast enough to hold off a late charge from Nazeef on her inside and Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champ Elysees {GB}) on her outside.
It was a knock-out battle in the final 150 metres with all three fillies not willing to give in but near the end, Nazeef got her neck in front of Billesdon Brook for the victory. Terebellum faded slightly late and was another neck back in third with One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock) only 0.5l behind her.
Giving trainer John Gosden the top half of a first and third finish with that trainer also saddling Terebellum. Nazeef’s only blip came in her unveiling when she was third on debut at this track last June as a 3-year-old.
“To cap it like that is testament to her will-to-win. Frankie’s horse was the only one with 10-furlong form and it was obvious he was going to go forward so I only had to get in behind and the rest was pretty easy,” Crowley told Thoroughbred Daily News. “Although I didn’t want to get into a war with Frankie, on the other hand she was a bit flat-footed going down into the ‘dip’ and he took a length out of me there. In fairness to her, when we got to within 0.5l she was always going to get there. She had a hard time at Ascot, as I had to be quite forceful that day so I didn’t want to give her too hard a race here but she seems to be thriving on her racing. She could have gone the other way from Ascot, but has taken a big step forwards again. She seems to be always hitting the line very hard and I wouldn’t rule out going further or taking on the boys. She’s a tough filly and a pleasure to ride wherever she goes.”
One of two stakes winners on the day for Invincible Spirit, Nazeef’s victory was followed up two and a half hours later in Ireland when Make A Challenge (Ire) won the Listed Sky Bet Midsummer Sprint at the Curragh.
The first stakes winner for her Listed winning dam Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), her dam is also a half-sister to the stakes-winning Fastnet Rock duo Desert Stone (GB) and Euginio (Ire). She is also from the family of Group 1-winning full brothers Pastoral Pursuits (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and Goodricke (GB).
Dandalla stays undefeated in Duchess of Cambridge
Three weeks after winning the G3 Albany S. by 6l, Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) had to dig deep on the soft ground to take home the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket.
Staying at 1200 metres under regular jockey Ben Curtis, Dandalla settled herself in midpack early on as they raced down the straight behind Seattle Rock (GB) (Fastnet Rock) on the far rail. Dandalla started making up ground with 400 metres to run but it was clear she wasn’t enjoying the ground.
The filly made her way to the front but wasn’t able to pull away in her Royal Ascot style, putting in a workmanlike run to keep in front of Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) by a head in the end.
It was a close race behind them for the third spot as Santosha (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) just edged out Time Scale (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) by a neck with the top four all within 1l of each other.
“She’s tough and game and has a great attitude, but I think the ground was a bit sticky for her today,” Curtis told Thoroughbred Daily News. “It’s a bit softer than it was at Ascot and she didn’t travel like she did that day. She had a lot of ability and a lot of guts to get home in front. At the end of the race I was trying not to give her too hard a time and do it hands and heels. I could hear them coming, but she had her head down to the floor and held on. She has a great mental attitude, the looks to go with it and evidently the ability to go with that. She has a lot of the ticks needed.”
One of two winners from two to run for Chellalla (GB) (Elnadim {USA}), the filly’s dam is a half-sister to two stakes horses. This is also the extended family of G1 Epsom Derby winner North Light (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and Group 1 winner Gamut (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}) among others.
