Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup |
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| Group 2, York 14:30 £150,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 88y, Class 1 |
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| Friday 22nd August 2014 | |
1 Pale Mimosa 2/1F
2 Estimate 9/2
3 Times Up 10/1
NR: High Jinx (IRE)
7 ran Distances: ½l, 2¼l, nse
TIME 3m 31.52s (slow by 2.52s)
Pale Mimosa battles to Lonsdale Cup victory, holding the late thrust of Estimate in second
Dermot Weld on Pale Mimosa's possible Melbourne Cup bid: "We'll see. We'll discuss it in great detail, she wants ground with a bit of ease."
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Pale Mimosa kept Estimate at bay to claim the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York.
Having just her third start of the season, the Dermot Weld-trained mare travelled powerfully up the long Knavesmire straight in the hands of Pat Smullen after Forgotten Voice had taken the field along.
Hitting the front just over a furlong out, the 2-1 favourite stayed on strongly to hold the late thrust of Ryan Moore on the Queen's Estimate, who stuck on well but could never quite get to the winner, going down by half a length.
Smullen said: "She's a very good mare when everything is right for her, she's just a bit fragile and the boss has done a great job of minding her and keeping her right.
"I was glad we had a drop of rain last night as it just took the real firmness out of the ground, that was our concern, but when conditions are right she is good.
"She travelled beautifully and a t halfway I was very confident, they just give you that feel when everything is going right.
"She's not just a dour stayer, she has a turn of foot as well. She doesn't need it very soft, just a bit of kindness in it. Hopefully we'll have a good autumn with her."
Weld added: "I was delighted with her, she's a very progressive mare. She won well at Leopardstown and was here two years ago in the Galtres. They were two very brave fillies fighting it out, her heart was in the right place under a tactical ride.
"The race was run to suit her and Pat had her in the right position throughout. The plan was to sit handy and not many others ride a better type of race than Pat. We had no worries about the ground today and it looked a very good renewal."
Asked about a Melbourne Cup bid, Weld said: "We'll see. The problem is she loves a bit of ease in the ground, and the track here was beautiful. We'll think about it, and certainly discuss it in great detail. She's a wonderful staying mare to own."
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The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Estimate was producing a much better performance than when disappointing in the Goodwood Cup, where she was last of the eight runners.
Her Majesty's racing manager John Warren said: "It's great to get her back on track as we were disappointed after Goodwood.
"There were other things (apart from the track). As Ryan (Moore) said, she was probably in season, but we didn't want to make it seem like sour grapes. She has exonerated herself today and we have to get our heads together and discuss the options.
"There is the Doncaster Cup, but we are also keen to look at the Irish St Leger. That is a shorter trip, but it might be something to consider to sharpen her up with a view to possibly going for the Melbourne Cup.
"The Queen will have a big input in making the decision on whether she does go to Australia. The Queen won't be able to make the trip, so if the filly is going to travel, it will have to be on her own merits.
"The Queen will always do what is right by the filly and if she does go to Australia there will be a knock-on effect to the breeding season and I suspect she will be retired at the end of this year.
"Sir Michael said today's race in itself was a good enough trial for the Melbourne Cup, so we'll see. It would be a big decision and a hell of a shout, but if the Queen thought it was the right thing to do I suspect she might be keen. She is a very lightly raced filly and it would be a bit of fun."
Stoute added: "You've got to be very pleased with that and it was much more like it. We had a blip at Goodwood and it is great to see her bounce back. She's in the Doncaster Cup and also the Irish Leger. I would have thought it will be one or the other."
Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup
(British Champions Series)
£150,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 88y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good
