Unsung Heroine: has Hayes the new Diva?
December 2nd 2008 06:51
After another disappointing Melbourne Spring Carnival, David Hayes is looking far and wide to bolster the stocks of his staying horses. This year he was unfortunate when the promising Zagreb suffered an injury after staring his campaign with so much promise and potential - while the Hayes faith in Largo Lad must be waning as the giant gelding continues to promise - but regularly fails to deliver. But next year his stable may have in it one of the most promising staying fillies from the UK.
And her theatrical name will lend itself to expectations and comparisons with another GB born mare - the champion Makybe Diva.
On the opening day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in the UK the well performed 3 year old filly Unsung Heroine was sold for 950,000 guineas (around $A2.375 million on current exchange rates) to agent Hubie De Burgh on behalf of a client who is clearly targeting the Melbourne Cup of 2009 as a main priority.
"She's for an established client and will probably join David Hayes and will hopefully be the new Makybe Diva.”
"She had all the attributes to suit Australia, she's a lovely rangy filly without many miles on the clock, she stays and looks like she will improve physically." - Hubie De Burgh, as reported to racingpost.uk.
Unsung Heroine was first bought as a yearling at the Tattersall’s October Yearling Sales in 2006 for a mere 5,000 guineas. She had suffered an accident that resulted in her losing most of her tail hair.
“She looked a bit of a mess when she went through the ring as a yearling, She didn't race at two, and then she stood on herself in the spring when she was due to run at Leopardstown. She punctured her hind joint, but it was nothing, it just held her up for six weeks or so.”
"It's a good tough family that she hails from," Posidonas (GB) (Slip Anchor) is a good solid horse and Ile De Chypre (GB) (Ile De Bourbon) won the Juddmonte International (Eng-G1), so we'll go to Tattersalls and see what happens." - Fozzy Stack, assistant trainer.
Unsung Heroine has started only 4 times.
Her first appearance was on the 17th of July 2008 in a 1 mile & 2 furlong Maiden at Fairyhouse in Ireland. Unsung Heroine started at 5/4 favourite in the field of 18 and won by a half length from Shreyas (a half-sister to Group 1 winners Youmzain and Creachadoir). Highlighting the future possibilities of this filly (and runner-up) was the fact that the 3rd horse was 16 lengths further astern.
racingpost analysis:
A maiden fought out by two newcomers who on this evidence are clearly smart sorts. The pair finished a long way clear of the rest and UNSUNG HEROINE, who was the subject of good reports and started favourite, was pushed along in fourth place approaching the final bend before leading early in the straight. Headed over 1f out, she rallied well to regain the initiative well inside the final furlong and was on top when she edged left, brushing the runner-up, close home. A stewards' inquiry was called but the result was left unaltered. She should appreciate 1m4f and possibly further. The Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes at Cork next month is the plan.
Unsung Heroine would next appear in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Give Thanks Stakes (1 1/2 miles) at Cork. She would measure up to better company and win by 2 lengths.
racingpost analysis:
UNSUNG HEROINE was going into Pattern company here off a debut win in a maiden at Fairyhouse last month. The extra 2f was always going to suit her and the Fairyhouse form received a boost when the half-length runner-up easily landed a maiden at Gowran Park on Tuesday. But it was still a relatively big ask for Tommy Stack's filly, who certainly lived up to her big reputation by beating some useful and more seasoned rivals.
Despite showing her inexperience at times - she appeared not to handle the bends too well - she loomed up to Hasanka approaching the final furlong and hit the front about 150 yards from the finish before forging clear. She will stay further and is entered for the St Leger. That option will be considered, with the Park Hill Stakes a possible alternative target at Doncaster.
Next start Unsung Heroine took on the best stayers of her age in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster (1 mile 6 1/2 furlongs) and would finish 2nd behind Conduit - who would at his next start win the Breeders’ Cup Turf, defeating Eagle Mountain, with Soldier Of Fortune favourite and 4th. Unsung Heroine was beaten by 3 lengths - but behind her were Look Here (Epsom Oaks by 3 3/4 lengths); Frozen Fire (Irish Derby) and Allessandro Volta.
racingpost analysis:
Fillies' are not often asked to contest the St Leger, but their record when doing so is admirable and they were responsible for both the second and third home. Having only the third race of her career, Unsung Heroine has come a long way in a short space of time. Unraced at two, she went from winning a Fairyhouse maiden to beating some smart older fillies in a 1m4f Group 3 at Cork last month, and this represented another huge step forward.
She looked a likely improver for the distance and saw it out well despite being keen through the early stages. Readily making ground to track Conduit through, she briefly looked a major threat, but the winner was always pulling out more and she could make no impression inside the final furlong. She has a big future ahead of her and will now be aimed at the new Breeders' Cup Marathon, a race she may go well in if going on again. As for next season, her trainer Tommy Stack mentioned the Melbourne Cup as an ambitious target.
Her 4th and final start for 2008 was in the Pride Stakes (Group 2 over 1 1/2 miles) at Newmarket where she ran 11/8 favourite and was beaten by a head by Crystal Capella.
racingpost analysis:
Unsung Heroine, a cheaply bought and lightly raced filly, had the best form in the race, having finished a clear second to Conduit in the St Leger. With stamina not in doubt, she had plenty of use made of her and went on at the three-furlong pole. She responded well when the winner took her on and only just lost out despite the barging match. Presumably she will remain in training next season, as this was only her fourth start, and in that case may get the chance for revenge.
Unsung Heroine paraded before sale at Tattersalls
And her theatrical name will lend itself to expectations and comparisons with another GB born mare - the champion Makybe Diva.
On the opening day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in the UK the well performed 3 year old filly Unsung Heroine was sold for 950,000 guineas (around $A2.375 million on current exchange rates) to agent Hubie De Burgh on behalf of a client who is clearly targeting the Melbourne Cup of 2009 as a main priority.
"She's for an established client and will probably join David Hayes and will hopefully be the new Makybe Diva.”
"She had all the attributes to suit Australia, she's a lovely rangy filly without many miles on the clock, she stays and looks like she will improve physically." - Hubie De Burgh, as reported to racingpost.uk.
Unsung Heroine was first bought as a yearling at the Tattersall’s October Yearling Sales in 2006 for a mere 5,000 guineas. She had suffered an accident that resulted in her losing most of her tail hair.
“She looked a bit of a mess when she went through the ring as a yearling, She didn't race at two, and then she stood on herself in the spring when she was due to run at Leopardstown. She punctured her hind joint, but it was nothing, it just held her up for six weeks or so.”
"It's a good tough family that she hails from," Posidonas (GB) (Slip Anchor) is a good solid horse and Ile De Chypre (GB) (Ile De Bourbon) won the Juddmonte International (Eng-G1), so we'll go to Tattersalls and see what happens." - Fozzy Stack, assistant trainer.
Unsung Heroine has started only 4 times.
Her first appearance was on the 17th of July 2008 in a 1 mile & 2 furlong Maiden at Fairyhouse in Ireland. Unsung Heroine started at 5/4 favourite in the field of 18 and won by a half length from Shreyas (a half-sister to Group 1 winners Youmzain and Creachadoir). Highlighting the future possibilities of this filly (and runner-up) was the fact that the 3rd horse was 16 lengths further astern.
racingpost analysis:
A maiden fought out by two newcomers who on this evidence are clearly smart sorts. The pair finished a long way clear of the rest and UNSUNG HEROINE, who was the subject of good reports and started favourite, was pushed along in fourth place approaching the final bend before leading early in the straight. Headed over 1f out, she rallied well to regain the initiative well inside the final furlong and was on top when she edged left, brushing the runner-up, close home. A stewards' inquiry was called but the result was left unaltered. She should appreciate 1m4f and possibly further. The Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes at Cork next month is the plan.
Unsung Heroine would next appear in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Give Thanks Stakes (1 1/2 miles) at Cork. She would measure up to better company and win by 2 lengths.
racingpost analysis:
UNSUNG HEROINE was going into Pattern company here off a debut win in a maiden at Fairyhouse last month. The extra 2f was always going to suit her and the Fairyhouse form received a boost when the half-length runner-up easily landed a maiden at Gowran Park on Tuesday. But it was still a relatively big ask for Tommy Stack's filly, who certainly lived up to her big reputation by beating some useful and more seasoned rivals.
Despite showing her inexperience at times - she appeared not to handle the bends too well - she loomed up to Hasanka approaching the final furlong and hit the front about 150 yards from the finish before forging clear. She will stay further and is entered for the St Leger. That option will be considered, with the Park Hill Stakes a possible alternative target at Doncaster.
Next start Unsung Heroine took on the best stayers of her age in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster (1 mile 6 1/2 furlongs) and would finish 2nd behind Conduit - who would at his next start win the Breeders’ Cup Turf, defeating Eagle Mountain, with Soldier Of Fortune favourite and 4th. Unsung Heroine was beaten by 3 lengths - but behind her were Look Here (Epsom Oaks by 3 3/4 lengths); Frozen Fire (Irish Derby) and Allessandro Volta.
racingpost analysis:
Fillies' are not often asked to contest the St Leger, but their record when doing so is admirable and they were responsible for both the second and third home. Having only the third race of her career, Unsung Heroine has come a long way in a short space of time. Unraced at two, she went from winning a Fairyhouse maiden to beating some smart older fillies in a 1m4f Group 3 at Cork last month, and this represented another huge step forward.
She looked a likely improver for the distance and saw it out well despite being keen through the early stages. Readily making ground to track Conduit through, she briefly looked a major threat, but the winner was always pulling out more and she could make no impression inside the final furlong. She has a big future ahead of her and will now be aimed at the new Breeders' Cup Marathon, a race she may go well in if going on again. As for next season, her trainer Tommy Stack mentioned the Melbourne Cup as an ambitious target.
Her 4th and final start for 2008 was in the Pride Stakes (Group 2 over 1 1/2 miles) at Newmarket where she ran 11/8 favourite and was beaten by a head by Crystal Capella.
racingpost analysis:
Unsung Heroine, a cheaply bought and lightly raced filly, had the best form in the race, having finished a clear second to Conduit in the St Leger. With stamina not in doubt, she had plenty of use made of her and went on at the three-furlong pole. She responded well when the winner took her on and only just lost out despite the barging match. Presumably she will remain in training next season, as this was only her fourth start, and in that case may get the chance for revenge.
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