Echoes of Lochsong in Dancing Star show
DANCING STAR evoked memories of the great Lochsong as she became the first filly to win the Qatar Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood since her illustrious relative in 1992.
That win 24 years ago for Willie Carson-ridden Lochsong was the springboard to a memorable career which included success in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York and two victories in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.
The jockeys may have been different — David Probert was on board Dancing Star — and Andrew Balding claimed the training honours rather than his retired father, Ian. But the one constant, owner-breeder Jeff Smith, was left believing he has another potential sprint queen from a family he knows well.
Smith’s Lochangel, the Nunthorpe-winning half-sister to Lochsong, is the grand dam of yesterday’s 9-2 winning favourite. Three-year-old Dancing Star also claimed the £121,000 first prize a year earlier than Lochsong.
Smith said: ‘We have been very lucky. Lochsong won this at four. We had a good draw but Dancing Star has won it so well, you have to be impressed. We are keeping up a good family tradition.’
Dancing Star was the last runner to make the 28-runner line-up and only sneaked in at the bottom of the handicap thanks to a penalty picked up for winning at Newmarket.
She forged clear in the final 100 yards from in-form second favourite Orion’s Bow and the fast-finishing Raucous.
Balding will aim her at the Group One British Champions Sprint at Ascot on October 15 in a precursor to a challenge for the big speedster prizes next year.
He said: ‘She is a very special animal. She has improved a huge amount from two to three. The whole family have done it but she is a year ahead of Lochsong.’
The 2011 Stewards’ Cup was won by Hoof It and the Mick Easterby gelding, now nine and carrying the colours of golfer Lee Westwood, won the Stewards’ Sprint Handicap for contenders who fail to make the Stewards’ Cup.
It was the biggest win yet for apprentice jockey Nathan Evans, on his 19th birthday.
Minding landed her seventh Group One race with a comprehensive length-and-a-quarter win from Queen’s Trust in the Nassau Stakes under Ryan Moore.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Oaks and One Thousand Guineas winner now looks likely to be unleashed against the colts. She is 7-1 for the Arc with Hills.