Zoffany’s Fleeting Takes the May Hill

[Wandering Eyes]

Maintaining the recent momentum of the Ballydoyle stable back toward full potency, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) mastered a field full of potential in Thursday’s G2 William Hill May Hill S. at Doncaster. Third last time in the G3 Flame of Tara S. at The Curragh Sept. 1, the 12-1 shot was switched off in rear early by Donnacha O’Brien and stayed on down the outer to collar Star Terms (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) with a half furlong to race en route to a 1 1/2-length success. “There was not a lot between the two [Ballydoyle fillies] and she picked up and got the mile well, which was pleasing,” Paul Smith commented. “We could look at the [G1] Fillies Mile or [G1 Prix] Marcel Boussac after that.”

Fleeting began her career with a win over seven furlongs at Limerick June 22 before being dropped to six to contest the July 1 G3 Grangecon Stud S. at The Curragh. Last of seven after setting the early tempo there, the bay was again ridden prominently along with Peach Tree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as the pair set up a perfect pace scenario for their talented stablemate Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) but the anchor was down this time with Donnacha keen to educate her. Always behind the group but well in touch, she tracked the 11-8 favourite Dubai Beauty (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the Juddmonte representative Sand Share (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) through the contest but for a period inside the final quarter mile it looked as if Star Terms had got away towards the stand’s side. Providing a strong surge as the whip was applied, Fleeting was soon in command and hit the line ears pricked.

Richard Hannon was delighted with the effort of the runner-up Star Terms, who sports the Barnett silks of Time Charter fame. “She travelled very well, settled and she looks like a very good filly,” he said, while Ralph Beckett said of Sand Share (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who was a half length away in third, “It was her first time on grass and a big ask. She was a little bit green, but she’s a big girl and will be better next year after a winter on her back. I’m not sold on the Fillies’ Mile, I’ll maybe look for a listed race next.”

Fleeting’s dam is the Spanish champion 3-year-old filly Azafata (Spa) (Motivator {GB}), a daughter of the listed-placed Anysheba (Alysheba) who in turn is the second dam of the G3 Atalanta S. dead-heater Ladys First (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). The third dam Animatrice (Alleged) annexed the G2 Prix de Malleret and G3 Prix de la Nonette and was third in the G1 Epsom Oaks before producing the G3 Prix de Royaumont scorer Sadler’s Flag (Sadler’s Wells). Animatrice is kin to four stakes winners, most notably the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero and sire Poliglote (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and she is also connected to the top-level scorers Special Ring (Nureyev) and I’m Your Man (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Azafata’s as-yet unnamed yearling filly is by War Command, while she also has a filly foal by Olympic Glory (Ire).

FLEETING (IRE), f, 2, Zoffany (Ire)–Azafata (Spa) (Ch. 3yo Filly-Spa), by Motivator (GB).
(€50,000 Wlg ’16 ARQDEC; €100,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Fernando Bermudez (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Donnacha O’Brien. £39,697. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 4-2-0-1, £54,246.

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