Third behind Limato (Tagula) in the Pavilion S. (Eng-G3) at Ascot April 29
before winning the Carnarvon S. over this six-furlong trip at Newbury May 16,
Adaay (Kodiac) progressed again to reverse Ascot form and upset the previously
unbeaten Henry Candy trainee on slower ground in Saturday’s Sandy Lane S.
(Eng-G2) at Haydock.
Highly regarded at two, the bay beat the eventual Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1)
runner-up Kodi Bear (Kodiac) on debut at Newbury and went to the Royal meeting
with another win under his belt at Yarmouth but was only eighth in the Coventry
S. (Eng-G2) before finishing third to Limato in the Rose Bowl S. back at
Newbury in July. Returning for the first time subsequently in the Pavilion,
Adaay ran a fair comeback race before showing the benefit of that when winning
the Carnarvon and setting up this rematch.
In rear early as the pace proved hot with Mattmu (Indesatchel) applying the
pressure, he gradually worked his way into contention under an unhurried Paul
Hanagan. As Limato struggled to get past the longtime leader on the far side, it
was clear that the Shadwell first-string was emerging as the bigger threat and,
once in the lead approaching the furlong pole, was always holding Limato and the
gutsy filly New Providence (Bahamian Bounty).
“I got a very good feel from him and that’s the way to ride him — I felt
that the ride Ryan Moore gave him last time was superb and I just wanted to give
him the same ride today,” his jockey said. “He missed it a half-beat and it was
perfect and worked out beautifully. He didn’t mind that ground and Limato is a
very good horse, so I’m extra pleased.”
The winner is being aimed at the Commonwealth Cup (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot
June 19 and he looks set for a rematch with Limato, whose trainer Henry Candy
cited the prevailing ground as a factor in his first defeat.
“He ran a great race. He’s just not the same on that ground,” Candy said. We
know he wants top-of-the-ground. He picked up all right, but he just isn’t quite
the same horse. We had to find out whether he could do the same on that ground
and we know now. We just have to hope it warms up before Ascot.”
Cable Bay (Invincible Spirit), prone to throwing up an unexpected big effort
in top company now and then, was finally able to take advantage of a class drop
in the John of Gaunt (Eng-G3) and open his black-type account on the
rain-softened surface his record suggests is his favorite.
Runner-up at 20-1 in Newmarket’s Dewhurst S. in 2013, the bay had hit the
board only twice in five subsequent starts before re-emerging from the mire with
a latest eye-catching fifth at 66-1 in Newbury’s Lockinge S. (Eng-G1) May 16.
Pushed along from the break to sit behind the early pacesetters on the rail,
he was angled out approaching the quarter-pole and, when striking the front soon
after, proved game to assert as Ascription (Dansili) closed in.
“He missed the beat at the start and gave away his draw advantage, but was
brave and got in there,” jockey Jamie Spencer said. “He’s been dining at the top
table all along and has never really had an easy race. He handles all surfaces
and is adaptable from six furlongs to a mile, so he should have a good season.”
Cable Bay is being aimed at the June 16 Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1) at Royal
Ascot.
Miss Marjurie (Marju) continued her progression with a last-stride decision
in the about 12-furlong Pinnacle S. (Eng-G3).
Not quite the finished article in 2014, Miss Marjurie was seventh on her
first try at black-type in Goodwood’s March S. over 14 furlongs in August and
ninth in Newmarket’s Princess Royal S. dropped back to this trip the following
month. Bettering those efforts when put on the Polytrack to be second in the
13-furlong River Eden Fillies’ S. at Lingfield in October, the bay came back a
different proposition to take the Daisy Warwick S. returning to Goodwood last
time May 2.
Shuffled back after being hampered early, she took time to recover her poise
but gradually entered contention down the outer in the straight. Hooking up with
Wonderstruck (Sea the Stars) inside the final furlong, Miss Marjurie had
something extra to give in the last yards and dug in for a career-best.
“She got a bump on the first bend and got out of her rhythm, so I had to sit
and suffer and she came good when I turned in,” Hanagan said. “They went a good
pace and that probably contributed to her being outpaced early on, but she’s
really genuine and doesn’t want to be in front too soon.”
Connections are looking at a return to the same track and trip for the July 4
Lancashire Oaks (Eng-G2).
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