New Bay’s Persica Powers to Earl Of Sefton Triumph at HQ

[Wandering Eyes]

Richard Hannon trainee Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who retains an entry in next month's G1 Lockinge Stakes, continued on the upgrade with a first pattern-race triumph in Tuesday's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket.

Last term's Listed Doonside Cup victor, who hit the board in February's G3 Winter Derby when last seen, was positioned in second for most of this nine-furlong contest. Relishing the rain-softened ground, the 3-1 chance loomed large going ominously well approaching the quarter-mile marker and powered clear up the hill to account for Godolphin duo Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and First Conquest (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths and the same. Last year's G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby placegetter Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) attempted to make all, but lacked the fitness edge of his rivals and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in fourth.

Pedigree Notes
Persica is the first of three live foals and one of two winners from as many runners produced by New Zealand's Listed Champagne Stakes victrix Rubira (Aus) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), herself out of a winning half-sister to Listed Lenebane Stakes winner Royal Intrigue (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}). Royal Intrigue is also kin to the dam of G1 South African Cape Guineas-winning sire Noordhoek Flyer (SAf) (Pivotal {GB}). Perica's fourth dam Congress (Ire) (Dancing Brave) is a full-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Cherokee Rose (Ire). The February-foaled chestnut is kin to a 2-year-old colt by Camelot (GB).

 

Persica proves too good in the £85,000 G3 @bet365 Earl Of Sefton pic.twitter.com/BUuqo6a8sO

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 15, 2025

Tuesday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 EARL OF SEFTON STAKES-G3, £85,000, Newmarket, 4-15, 4yo/up, 9fT, 1:54.07, g/s.
1–PERSICA (IRE), 128, c, 4, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Rubira (Aus) (SW-NZ), by Lope De Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Duty Bound (Aus), by Ad Valorem
3rd Dam: Promessa (GB), by Reprimand (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (£200,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK). O-Martin Hughes & Michael Kerr-Dineen; B-The Applecross Syndicate (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Ryan Moore. £48,204. Lifetime Record: 14-6-0-3, $248,762. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ottoman Fleet (GB), 128, g, 6, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Innevera (Fr), by Motivator (GB). (€290,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 425,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-SCEA Marmion Vauville & Alain Jathiere (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £18,275.
3–First Conquest (GB), 131, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Patroness (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £9,146.
Margins: 2HF, 2HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.00, 2.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Ambiente Friendly (Ire), Lavender Hill Mob (GB).

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