Dubawi’s Old Persian Prevails in Great Voltigeur Thriller

[Wandering Eyes]

   Godolphin’s royal blue was at the forefront in Wednesday’s G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York, but it was the famous white cap that was was in front at the line with Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) getting the better of Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) to score by a head. Tracking the pace-setting Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in second throughout, the 7-1 shot who had taken the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot June 22 was left in front three out and had his stablemate and the 6-4 favourite Cross Counter to contend with soon after. Battling it out up the straight as the penalised Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made significant progress from behind, it was Old Persian who had the bragging rights at the line with Ballydoyle’s G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero 1 1/2 lengths away in third in an ideal St Leger prep. “Old Persian was a group two winner with proper credentials and we put a line through his Irish Derby run [when sixth],” Charlie Appleby said. “He had a good break since and his work-rider Oscar Urbina said he was in great order, so he was a live player. Cross Counter was probably backed up quickly after breaking the course record at Goodwood and got a bit warmer today in the paddock. In an ideal world, I’d have loved another 10 days but we don’t live in that world. Old Persian galloped out well and he’ll go to the [G1] St Leger [at Doncaster Sept. 15] and Cross Counter has booked his ticket to the Melbourne Cup. This might put him up a half kilo in the weights which might give him an ideal racing weight [for the Melbourne Cup] now.”

OLD PERSIAN (GB), 129, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Indian Petal (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Wood Vine, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Massaraat, by Nureyev
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £96,407. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-1, £296,292.

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