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Gatsby downs Australia under great Moore ride
Second to Toormore and ahead of Postponed when 16-1 in Newmarket's Craven on his return April 17, he was 66-1 when 10th in the Two Thousand Guineas back over the same track and trip May 3. By the time he went back to York for the Dante Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs May 15, he was again relatively untouched by the betting public but brushed aside Godolphin's hot favorite True Story when teamed with Moore for the first time. After making odds of 9-1 look generous there, The Grey Gatsby was still under-appreciated when 19-1 for the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly at the start of the next month. Again under Moore, he stormed to a three-length success to silence the home contingent and was at last one of the market leaders when sent back to France for the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp July 13. In what amounted to a slog in the mud, he stayed on grimly from rear to be sixth having looked likely to be detached at one point and conditions were more in his favor when contesting the Juddmonte International under Richard Hughes. Two lengths down on Australia in that York feature, he was in turn clear of Moore's mount Telescope and Mukhadram in what amounted to a career-best performance, and connections believed there was more to come as they took the plunge to supplement for this prize. Sitting out the back early as Mukhadram tanked up to the two pacemakers Kingfisher and Alkasser, he was still there as Joseph O'Brien launched Australia five-wide turning into the stretch. With that rival in the clear soon after, The Grey Gatsby also swung deep to give pursuit. When asked to dig in by Moore, he responded by hunting down the favorite in the shade of the post. "I'm tremendously proud of the horse and Ryan gave him a fantastic ride," trainer Kevin Ryan commented. "He went out with a plan, as he knew it was going to be a quickly run race and I think now the horse will get the credit he deserves. At York, (Hughes) said that Australia got first kick on him, and although on the day he wouldn't have beaten him he would have got a lot closer and probably made it a harder race." Ryan noted that The Grey Gatsby had likely come on from that effort. "I thought coming into today we had him in better shape than at York, and he's taken us on a great journey. He stays in training next year and will get stronger and better, so he won't go to the Arc and there is a chance he'll go to Ascot (for the Champion Stakes October 18) and start off next year in the Dubai Duty Free (at Meydan in March)." Although the Irish Champion was a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf, Ryan ruled out a trip to Santa Anita. "He's too young for the Breeders' Cup this year, and all those races are there for him next year," his trainer said. While The Grey Gatsby's sire Mastercraftsman was completing a big-race double after Kingston Hill took the St Leger at Doncaster, Australia was making a less happy pedigree connection. He was emulating both his sire, Galileo, and dam, Ouija Board, who were near-miss seconds here in 2001 and 2006 respectively. Elsewhere on the card, comebacker Free Eagle aired in the Group 3 Enterprise (aka Kilternan) over the same course and distance in a time of 2:03.12, just faster than The Great Gatsby's 2:03.18. Labeled a "TDN Rising Star" prior to his heavy defeat at the hands of Australia in the Juvenile Turf on this card 12 months ago, Free Eagle was delivered with impressive skill by Dermot Weld to turn this contest into a procession on his first start since that occasion. Strongly supported despite his absence, he justified the confidence of those who were ready to excuse his eclipse at the hands of Ballydoyle's high-class performer and who remembered the manner of his debut 5 1/2-length success from the eventual Chester Vase winner Orchestra over a mile here in August. Restrained to race in mid-division early by Pat Smullen, the bay rolled to the front with a quarter-mile to race and hardly needed the whip to draw away for an emphatic score. "This was no surprise, as he had been working very impressively," trainer Dermot Weld commented. "I was a little bit concerned about whether I had him fit enough today, as he was in his box for 12 weeks due to a stress-fracture of his tibia. It's been a long road back and we've had a fantastic year but have been without our best player. "We'll look at the Champion Stakes, which is most likely, or Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (at Longchamp October 5). He'll stay in training next year and we hope it all goes right with him. This fellow is potentially a very good horse." Following the controversial disqualification of Duntle in the Group 1 Matron two years ago, the Niarchos Family had unfinished business to settle, and Fiesolana duly obliged with a late show to register a career-best. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget initially, the bay was sixth on her first attempt at black-type in the Prix des Lilas at Longchamp in June 2012, but three starts later and a year on she was winning the six-furlong Ballyogan here for new connections. Following up in the Brownstown over an extra panel at Fairyhouse in July and the Fairy Bridge over 100 yards more at Tipperary the next month, she had failed to see out a mile or further when sixth in the Kilboy Estate at the Curragh and fifth in last year's edition of this prize. After a return sixth in the Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud at the start of May, she finally gave the impression that she was ready to last out this trip when a half-length second giving Purr Along five pounds in the Lanwades Stud on the Curragh's testing ground May 24. Fourth in the Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot June 18, Fiesolana underlined her versatility when third attempting to make all in the Prix Maurice de Gheest dropped to 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville last time August 10. Racing under restraint early buried in midpack, she was short of room but traveling with menace at the top of the straight with nothing getting away from her in front. Finding the split between Tapestry and Rizeena with a furlong remaining, she rushed through as old rival Purr Along was caught in a pocket down on the fence and overhauled Rizeena 100 yards out to score with some authority. "It's hard to get a Group 1 here and it's great to get a Group 1 win out of her," jockey Billy Lee commented. "I thought they might close the gap on me, but she stuck her head through and really picked up and ran well to the line. She's been knocking on the door and Willie (McCreery) has had her in top shape all year. She was probably a bit fresh in France last time and I ended up having to make the running on her when the ground was bottomless and she ran well at Royal Ascot, so she deserved that." Bow Creek upended favored Mustajeeb in the Group 2 Clipper Boomerang Mile (aka Solonaway). Enjoying mixed fortunes at two, Bow Creek was either moderate or impressive, and the latter was an apt description for his emphatic win in a seven-furlong Newbury nursery in September. Causing an upset when besting the subsequent Newmarket Stakes winner Barley Mow in Lingfield's International Trial over a mile on the Polytrack April 5, the bay was fifth in a handicap at Musselburgh 13 days later before finishing second to Kingfisher in Chester's Dee Stakes over 10 furlongs May 9. Back at a mile for the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot June 19, he was a highly creditable second there before finishing third to the potentially top-class Wannabe Yours in the Thoroughbred Stakes also over that trip at Goodwood at the start of August. Reverting to forcing tactics when returning to that venue for the Celebration Mile last time August 23, Bow Creek was able to cling on to his lead despite veering sharply left late on, but was admirably straightforward with this gutsy effort to follow up. Settled in second throughout the early stages here, he was joined by Mustajeeb as soon as the lead became available with a furlong remaining and showed tenacity to outstay that rival in the run to the line. "He's been improving all year," jockey Joe Fanning said. "I thought the track would suit him, as he does hang a bit left. I thought the second was going to get by me, but he battled back well when I gave him a crack and you couldn't rule out him getting to Group 1 level." C John F Kennedy provided a bright spot for Ballydoyle in the Group 3 Juvenile Turf. Second to the subsequent Futurity third Hall of Fame on debut over this track and one-mile trip July 24, John F Kennedy earned "TDN Rising Star" status when scoring by 4 3/4 lengths in a maiden again at this distance at the Curragh August 10 and made light work of this important next step. Reserved early behind the leaders, the bay swept to the front passing the quarter-pole and was hand ridden to assert from Tombelaine and emulate last year's winner Australia. "He could go anywhere now," Aidan O'Brien said. "He has learnt a lot so far and had to learn quick here too and we're thinking of him maybe as a horse for the Dewhurst Stakes (at Newmarket October 17), as he has plenty of pace." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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