Bay Bridge has potential, but does it have the pedigree?
It’s a race that epitomizes what Royal Ascot is all about.
From the success of State Of Rest’s Cox Plate in Australia to the Japanese-bred Shahryar who won the Sheema Classic in dramatic style on Meydan’s Dubai World Cup map, there are at least eight racing nations represented in a small but select field for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
It will take a monster effort for the favorite Bay Bridge (New Bay – Hayyona by Multiplex) to match stablemate Desert Crown’s achievements to date, but a Group 1 at Royal Ascot is the perfect place to claim his position.
Bay Bridge are unbeaten at three and four, including a dominant five-length success in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown last time out.
Son of New Bay and trained by a master in the exercise of patience, Bay Bridge is entitled to continue its remarkable progress. Bay Bridge is from New Bay’s first generation of four-year-olds, so we’re still learning about him, but as a son of Dubawi, we can expect improvement.
Her immediate pedigree indicates that New Bay has progressed into this mare, but going back further there is a Group 1 form to be found. It is an extension of the Aga Khan’s ‘S’ family, including his Prix de Diane-winning fourth dam Shemaka.
The Listed winner Shemaka’s daughter produced Paris Grand Prix winner Shakeel. Bay Bridge is favored for a reason and based on his pedigree he has every right to move up to the Group 1 company.
What about runner Gosden?
Double winner of the Dubai Turf Lord of the North (Dubawi – Najoum by Giant’s Causeway) has been here before, taking the 2020 renewal of this race behind closed doors at the expense of Champion Stakes winner Addeybb.
There is class and depth to Lord North’s pedigree and he has already proven himself up to the task. A typically progressive son of Dubawi, he did exactly what he was brought up to do.
From 24 foals of racing age, the Giant’s Causeway mares, when bred in Dubawi, produced five stake winners for a very healthy strike rate of 21%.
All five were at their best at the age of four or older – Group 2 winners Principe Adepto and Universal, as well as Group 3 winners Ispolini and Wafy. This encourages Lord North to return to his best form at the age of six. He will need it if he wants to upset the market leaders.
How strong is the Japanese challenger?
Japan’s grip on the international racing scene shows no signs of weakening and Shahryar (Deep Impact – Dubai Majesty by Essence Of Dubai) is meant to tighten their grip.
While the pursuit of the late Deep Impact heir continues, a win for his son Shahryar here would be enough to warrant serious consideration. Winner at two, National Grade 1 winner in Japan at three and Group 1 winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic at four, this colt’s form and pedigree embody everything the Japanese have sought and successfully bred.
His dam Dubai Majesty was unsold for just $7,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s October yearling sale in 2006. Twelve wins over four seasons resulted in a successful Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint led to a price of $1.1 million to Fasig-Tipton for their breeding stock sale.
She booked her ticket to Japan with Katsumi Yoshida. His third colt, and the second from Deep Impact, was the first to strike gold – Al Ain, a two-time Grade 1 winner in Japan, has now been bred there since 2020.
Lightning appears to have struck twice with Shahryar and if he adds to his already stellar international racing record, he would deserve a chance at stud to fill the gaping void left by his father’s passing.
Can others get in on the action?
Great Glory (Olympic Glory – Madonna Lily by Daylami) offers to give her dad a second royal winner after Watch Me upset the Coronation Stakes in 2019.
You have to go all the way back to the third dam of Grand Glory, and down into the southern hemisphere to find the winning Group 1 class in her pedigree. Only 2% of bet winners over racing age colts are disappointing for top miler Olympic Glory. This mare, his best daughter, changed hands for 2.5 million euros during the Arqana breeding stock sale in December following her illustrious exploits on the ring.
Anyone who watched her in 2017 at Arqana’s October yearling sale would hardly have believed she would be bidding for a second Group 1 at Royal Ascot – she only brought in €18,000 at a private auction.
State of rest (Starspangledbanner – Repose by Quiet American) traveled the world collecting big lucrative pots and improving his reputation.
Since clearing a mile, this colt is three out of four in Groups/Grade 1 and was only half a length behind Alenquer when third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Out of the unraced mare Repose, she is out of the grand sire of dam Quiet American and Listed winner Monassabaat. However, it is State Of Rest’s third mother, It’s In The Air, whose class descends.
Champion three-year-old in America, It’s In The Air has won no less than five Grade 1s in sixteen wins over four seasons.
It’s an active family with the winner of Blue Wind Stakes quiet lady (Australia) is doing his best to emulate his half-brother’s achievements this season. Primarily associated with speed, Starspangledbanner conveyed a devastating toe turn that State Of Rest uses to great effect on this mile and a quarter trip.
There may only be five runners, but four have proven themselves in Group 1. The fifth, favorite Bay Bridge, is an unknown quantity.
The industry is built around potential. This run marks his opportunity to turn his potential into triumph and shine on the biggest stage of all.
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