First and second in the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up, Senorita Bonita (Starspangledbanner) and Libertango (No Nay Never) ended up that way in Friday’s G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.
Topping that auction at 900,000gns, Victorious Forever’s Queen Mary runner-up was sent off the 9-4 second favourite behind the 10-11 market leader Libertango, who had cost 400,000gns there before going on to success in the Albany. More favoured of the duo by the steady early tempo laying up in third, Senorita Bonita was given the green light by Oisin Murphy heading to the furlong pole and had the jump on her big rival.
Strong to the line, the Crisfords’ chestnut had 3/4 of a length to spare on the George Boughey filly with Joseph O’Brien’s Fairyhouse maiden winner Alwaysanangel (Harry Angel) storming home to be only a short head away in third.
Two lengths behind Victorious at Royal Ascot, Senorita Bonita could be renewing rivalry with the Ballydoyle starlet soon. “They went no pace early, it was messy and she got a bit of a bump which that set her alight a bit but Oisin just settled her lovely,” Ed Crisford said. “Her turn of foot was electric today and it was a good performance.”
“After Royal Ascot, we felt that she wanted six furlongs and I would say we would go for the Prix Morny next. She has a penalty in Group Twos now and she showed today that she is a very good filly. I think we will go to Deauville then on to the Cheveley Park.”
Boughey said of Libertango, “They looked to go a little bit slow early doors and she had quickened off a very fast pace at Royal Ascot, so I think she just got a little bit lost and didn’t quite have that finishing kick she had last time. She’s not lost a huge amount in defeat and we’ll see where we are and make a plan going forward. The Lowther is certainly a possibility,” he added. “We will let the dust settle though, as she has had three very quick runs.”
Breeders’ Delight
Michael and Anne Gaffney were understandably all smiles as they watched Senorita Bonita fulfil the high regard in which she has been held by plenty who have been around her as a young horse. The Gaffneys bred the filly at their Churchtown House Stud in Mallow, Co Cork, just as they had her dam Belicious (Ruler Of The World).
“This is really brilliant to have a filly who has gone so far so quickly,” said Michael. “We’re so, so proud of her. It’s an unbelievable job to come here and do this after Royal Ascot – it’s beyond our widest dreams. She’s a homebred and we bred her dam, and my brother Tom is at Castlehyde Stud where Starspangledbanner stands, and he’s a part-breeder as well.
“Starspangledbanner is having an unbelievable season and I’m hoping he comes back and finishes the job with the other filly [Precise] later.”
Belicious is now in foal to Camille Pissarro with a Modern Games yearling filly heading to the Goffs Orby Sale and a Sioux Nation filly at foot.
He added of the 900,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale topper, “Mark Flannery broke her for us and always said she was brilliant, and [winning jockey] Oisin Murphy spent a good lot of his lifetime in Churchtown, so knew Oisin as well when he was young so it’s almost a Churchtown full-stop.”
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Pedigree Notes
Senorita Bonita is the first foal out of Belicious, a half to three Stakes performers headed by the Prix de Royaumont winner Sub Rose by Ruler Of The World’s sire Galileo. She in turn produced the Czech champion Subway Dancer (Shamardal), who took the Prix du Conseil de Paris and was third in the Champion Stakes, and the Group 3 winner Secret Advisor (Dubawi), while Sub Rose’s Listed-winning full-sister Astonishing is responsible for the Group-race performers Dr Omran (Palace Pier), Gold Maze (Golden Horn) and Heavenly Breath (Dark Angel). The third dam is the top-class Magic Gleam (Danzig), winner of the old Falmouth when it was known as the Child Stakes who was also placed in the Coronation and Prix Jacques le Marois.
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 7-10, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.78, g/f.
1st Dam: Belicious (Ire), by Ruler Of The World (Ire)
2nd Dam: Amazing Krisken, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: Magic Gleam, by Danzig
2–Libertango (Ire), 128, f, 2, No Nay Never–Ein Gedi (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (€130,000 Ylg ’25 ARAUG; 400,000gns 2yo ’26 TATBRE). O-Mr V I Araci; B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud; T-George Boughey. £26,875.
3–Alwaysanangel (Ire), 128, f, 2, Harry Angel (Ire)–Totsiyah (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£78,750 2yo ’26 TATGBU). O-Ms Janine Byrne; B-Mr R Kavanagh; T-Joseph O’Brien. £13,450.
Margins: 3/4, SHD, 2. Odds: 2.25, 0.91, 14.00.
Also Ran: Ruby Moon (Ire), Jolivette (GB), Acclamation Star (GB), Etonnante (Ire), Troublesome Guest (Ire).
