Society Rock’s Unfortunately Pounces in the Renaissance

[Wandering Eyes]

   In the wilderness since bagging last term’s G2 Prix Robert Papin and G1 Prix Morny, Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) had failed to hit the mark in five starts this term, but bounced back in style with a late swoop in Sunday’s G3 Renaissance S. at Naas. The bay came into the contest off down-the-field finishes in Royal Ascot’s June 22 G1 Commonwealth Cup, Deauville’s Aug. 5 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and last time in the Sept. 15 G2 Park S. at Doncaster, and chased all five rivals detached in rear after the initial strides. Nudged along throughout, the 10-3 second choice was unrelenting in his effort and pounced late under a continued drive to nail St Patrick’s Day (Pioneerof The Nile) by a half length in the dying strides. “Things just haven’t dropped for this horse, we probably jarred him up at Ascot running him on the very fast ground and the summer just hasn’t gone our way,” admitted Karl Burke, who won this event with MG1SW Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) last year. “Chris [Hayes] told me he pinged the gates, but he’s dropped himself out and Chris thought he was in trouble for most of the way. He brought him wide to have one long run at it, it’s worked perfectly and he gave him a very good ride.” Looking ahead, the trainer added, “I’ll have to speak to [Cheveley Park Stud’s] Chris Richardson and the team now. The only race now for him is the [Oct. 20 G1 British Champions] Sprint at Ascot and if that came up with a bit cut in the ground we have nothing to lose by having a go at that. I’d say he’ll go to stud at the end of the season, he was a very good 2-year-old last year and has shown he’s still got ability. I’m sure he’ll do very well at stud and will be a very popular commercial horse.”

   Unfortunately is one of two pattern-race winners out of dual winner Unfortunate (GB) (Komaite), the other being G2 Temple S. and G3 Flying Five S. victress Look Busy (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}). He is also kin to a 2-year-old filly by Sir Prancealot (Ire), a yearling filly by Morpheus (GB) and a colt foal by Vadamos (Fr). His second dam Honour and Glory (GB) (Hotfoot {GB}) is kin to G3 Cornwallis S. and G3 King George S. victor Singing Steven (GB) (Balliol {GB}) as well as to dual Listed Trinidad Turf Cup hero General Streak (Firestreak {GB}). Unfortunately’s fourth dam Queen’s Evidence (GB) (King’s Bench {GB}) is also the ancestress of G2 Grande Premio Presidente Do Jockey Club scorer Influido (Brz) (Zuano {Brz}).

Sunday, Naas, Ireland
RENAISSANCE S.-G3, €60,000, Naas, 9-30, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.07, gd.
1–UNFORTUNATELY (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Society Rock (Ire)
1st Dam: Unfortunate (GB), by Komaite
2nd Dam: Honour and Glory (GB), by Hotfoot (GB)
3rd Dam: Cheb’s Honour, by Chebs Lad (GB)
(€24,000 Ylg ’16 TIRSEP). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Chris Hayes. €35,400. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Fr & G1SW-Fr, 12-4-2-0, $387,073. *1/2 to Look Busy (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}), GSW-Eng & Ire, SP-Ger, $524,059. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–St Patrick’s Day, 129, c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman. O-Susan Magnier; B-Summer Wind Farm (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. €12,000.
3–St Brelades Bay (Ire), 131, g, 6, Camacho (GB)–Tides (GB), by Bahamian Bounty (GB). (£70,000 Ylg ’13 DNPRM). O-Ms Fiona Carmichael; B-JC Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €6,000.
Margins: HF, 3/4, HF. Odds: 3.30, 4.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Gordon Lord Byron (Ire), Amthaal (GB), Fas (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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