Wigmore Hall gets his Grade 1 in Northern Dancer

Mark B. Hawtin's WIGMORE HALL (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire]) had run well in

Grade/Group 1 company on three continents, suggesting that it was only a matter

of time before the English-based gelding finally won at the top level. That

breakthrough came in Sunday's $512,174

Northern Dancer Turf S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine. Responding to a brilliant ride

by Jamie Spencer, the Michael Bell trainee prevailed over Simmard (Dixieland

Band) and Al Khali (Medaglia d'Oro) in a pulsating finish.

Wigmore Hall had never raced as far as 1 1/2 miles before, but was still

dispatched as the 7-5 favorite off his nightmare-trip fourth in the August 13

Arlington Million (G1). While Spencer deserted him that day to ride the

victorious Cape Blanco (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), his regular rider made amends with

a heady performance on Sunday.

Reserved in a ground-saving spot for the duration, Wigmore Hall bided his

time off the slow early pace carved out by Bourbon Bay (Sligo Bay [Ire]). The

front runner was stalked by Seaside Retreat (King Cugat) through leisurely

fractions of :25 3/5 and :52 4/5 on the firm turf. Down the backstretch, Simmard

made a move and pressed Bourbon Bay as he reached the six-furlong mark in 1:18

4/5.

Simmard then committed himself for good on the far turn. Wresting control

after a mile in 1:43 2/5, he turned on the speed and galloped relentlessly into

the homestretch. Meanwhile, Simmard's two challengers took opposite tacks. Al

Khali, determined to avoid his habitual traffic woes, was storming widest of all

on the outside. Spencer, on the other hand, elected to stick to the innermost

path with Wigmore Hall, and that might have made the difference.

Quickening best of all in the mad dash to the line, Wigmore Hall surged past

a game Simmard by a neck. Al Khali flashed by another half-length away in a

bang-up third. Wigmore Hall, who stopped the teletimer in 2:30 3/5, returned

$4.90, $3.20 and $2.80.

Another 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth came reformed claimer Laureate Conductor

(Bernstein), the 69-1 longest shot on the board. Hailstone (City Zip), Hotep (A.P.

Indy), Seaside Retreat and Bourbon Bay rounded out the order under the wire.

Wigmore Hall's signature win improved his mark to 18-6-4-2, $1,343,761. Last

year as a sophomore, the bay gelding was pegged by his trainer as a

globetrotting type. Following a near-miss in the Newmarket S. and a

badly-troubled third in the Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, Wigmore Hall landed

the lucrative John Smith's Cup heritage handicap versus older horses at York. He

first put his global ambitions to the test in the Secretariat S. (G1), where he

finished runner-up to Paddy O'Prado, and concluded his campaign with a

creditable fifth in the Champion S. (Eng-G1).

Reappearing in Dubai in March, Wigmore Hall nipped Poet's Voice (Dubawi) and

Presvis (Sakhee) in the Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2). He was next compromised by traffic

problems in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), belatedly recovering for third to

Presvis. Wigmore Hall couldn't uphold his form on his further travels this

spring. Only 11th in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin, he was a

little closer when seventh in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Sin-G1).

He returned from a nearly three-month freshening in the Arlington Million and

did well for fourth, considering his poor trip.

Wigmore Hall was bred by K. and Mrs. Cullen in the Emerald Isle. Sold for

$56,407 as a Goffs November weanling, he commanded $109,015 as a Tattersalls

October yearling. He is the first registered foal from the winning Theatrical

(Ire) mare Love and Laughter, who has also produced a two-year-old colt named

Sea Fever (Footstepsinthesand [GB]).

Love and Laughter, a half-sister to French stakes victress Kissing the Camera

(Galileo [Ire]), is out of Hoh Dear (Ire) (Sri Pekan), winner of the 1999

Natalma S. (G3) at Woodbine. With Wigmore Hall's sixth dam being Sweet and

Lovely (Tanerko), he comes from a productive family that includes French

champion two-year-old colt and successful sire Common Grounds (Kris) as well as

German champion Warrsan (Caerleon) and Italo-German champion Luso (Salse).

Wigmore Hall's inbreeding pattern features a 3 x 4 duplication to Sunday's

honoree, Northern Dancer.