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DFS Park Hill Stakes 2012 |
Wild Coco Takes Park Hill Stakes
13/09/12
1 Wild Coco 7/4 Jt Fav
2 Hazel Lavery 16/1
3 Estimate 7/2
9 ran Distances: 1¼l, shd, shd
TIME 3m 5.94s (slow by 1.14s)
Rider Tom Queally praised his mount Wild Coco’s battling qualities after she powered through the field to overhaul clear leader Estimate in the straight and win the Group Two DFS Park Hill Stakes by a length and a quarter.
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“She’s tough and a battler and she showed that as she got to the other filly and then rallied all the way to the line.”
Wild Coco, a four-year-old daughter of Shirocco, is the first horse her breeders Gestut Rottgen have had in training with Sir Henry Cecil, who was not present at Doncaster. The German nursery, founded in 1924 by Peter Muhlens, is based near Cologne.
Wild Coco is from the stud’s ‘W’ line of mares, which has produced from another branch the top-class two-mile chaser Well Chief. Gestut Rottgen’s ‘A’ family is responsible for another Park Hill Stakes heroine in Anna Of Saxony, winner in 1993 for Sheikh Mohammed.
“Wild Coco is the stud’s 113th Group winner,” said bloodstock adviser Jocelyn de Moubray. “And we hope to add another when her half-sister Wildrossel [by Dalakhani] runs in the German St Leger on Sunday.”
The DFS Park Hill Stakes, over the St Leger course and distance, is the world’s most prestigious staying contest restricted to fillies and mares. “The idea of sending horses to Sir Henry Cecil was to show that the stud’s products can compete in some of the best international races,” added de Moubray. “Sir Henry always thought Wild Coco was good and there was the possibility that she might have run in the St Leger itself last year. But she was not mature enough, so he put her away and gave her time, and she has proved herself worth his patience and judgement this year.”
DFS Park Hill Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)
9 ran
Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
| Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
| 1 |
Wild Coco Sir H R A Cecil |
T P Queally 9st 4lbs |
7 - 4 Winner |
| 2 |
Hazel Lavery C Hills |
William Carson 8st 6lbs |
16 - 1 1 1/4 length |
| 3 |
Estimate Sir Michael Stoute |
P Hanagan 8st 6lbs |
7 - 2 Short Head |
| 4 |
Gallipot J H M Gosden |
William Buick 8st 6lbs |
12 - 1 Short Head |
| 5 |
Ambivalent R Varian |
N Callan 8st 6lbs |
4 - 1 1 length |
| 6 |
Bite Of The Cherry M L W Bell |
Hayley Turner 8st 6lbs |
20 - 1 2 3/4 lengths |
| 7 |
Monshak Sir Michael Stoute |
F Norton 8st 6lbs |
25 - 1 3 1/2 lengths |
| 8 |
Cracking Lass R A Fahey |
T Hamilton 9st 4lbs |
33 - 1 Neck |
| 9 |
Kailani M Al Zarooni |
M Barzalona 8st 6lbs |
7 - 1 1 1/2 length |
HILLS AND WARREN PLEASED
It was a blanket finish to the DFS Park Hill Stakes and connections of the two placed fillies were both very satisfied.
Charlie Hills, trainer of the fast-finishing length and a quarter runner-up Hazel Lavery, said: “I am very pleased.
“She is a filly we have always thought a lot of and she got the trip really well today - the track obviously suited her.
“I think there is a Group Two race she could go for in France which we will look at. She is also in the December sales but I’d like to keep her if at all possible.”
A further short-head back in third was the Royal runner Estimate and she is likely to be campaigned over longer distances in the future.
John Warren, racing manager to The Queen, said: “Estimate has run another really nice race.
“I think she definitely needs further - all she does is stay and she was just tapped for toe over a mile and six furlongs today.
“For her next outing, whether that be this year or next year, we will definitely be looking to step her back up in trip.
“Hopefully, she can develop into a Cup horse for next year.”
