Wigmore Hall gets his Grade 1 in Northern Dancer

Wigmore Hall (right) outdueled Simmard (center) with Al Khali on the outside (WEG/Michael Burns Photography) 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
through 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.

“He’s very brave,” Spencer said. “It was a slow pace and an extremely messy
race. I was a bit worried, but he beat a Group 1 winner over a mile in his first
start of the year, so he’s got a good turn of foot.” 

Spencer was referring to the March 3 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) at nearly nine
furlongs, where Wigmore Hall nipped Poet’s Voice (Dubawi) and
Presvis (Sakhee).

As for the inside journey down the lane, Spencer quipped, “I had no choice.” 

“The boss gave him all the instructions,” assistant trainer Gillian Dolman
said of the game plan. “Jamie knows this horse inside out. I’m glad he did find
the rail.” 

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 rode the rail just like Redwood, another son of High Chaparral, in last year’s edition (WEG/Michael Burns Photography) 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). Although successful in his reappearance in the Jebel Hatta, 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.