The ultimate Australian group 1 of the yr proved one other feather within the cap of coach Ciaron Maher after Gentle Infantry Man defied a large gate to grab an elusive elite-level victory within the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (G1) going 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Ascot, rounding out a clear sweep for Jap raiders within the elite contests through the Perth Pinnacles Carnival.
The imported son of Quick Firm (Danehill Dancer) had come near group 1 glory in Europe—putting 5 instances on the highest degree—together with ending an agonizing brief neck-second to current Champion Stakes (G1) winner Anmaat within the Prix d’Ispahan in Might 2023 when skilled by British coach David Simcock.
The gelding made his first Australian look previous to that within the 2022 Golden Eagle, the place he ran a promising sixth, crushed two lengths by twin group 1 scorer I Want I Win.
After a remaining second-placed effort in a Haydock group 3 final September, he was despatched to Maher completely and ambitions for the transfer made clear when he rapidly lined up in opposition to one of the best milers round within the King Charles III Stakes (G1) at Randwick. The 6-year-old did not handle to appreciate these ambitions instantly, his eleventh placed-finish within the 1,600-meter contest behind Fangirl indicative of extra somber efforts to return over the following 12 months.
A glimmer of hope emerged after 5 extra unplaced makes an attempt when Gentle Infantry Man bounced again to take the listed Chester Manifold Stakes final month beneath James McDonald, however he lined up Saturday nonetheless with one thing to show following one other wayward Twelfth-place end when favored within the Railway Stakes (G1) at Ascot final time.
This time round, beneath an enterprising experience by Victoria-based Ethan Brown, Gentle Infantry Man was in a position to make use of his broad attract barrier 15 to his benefit, sitting exterior the lead earlier than racing clear down the Ascot straight.
He fought off the closing longshot Admiration Categorical (by My Admiration ) to achieve a deserved win by lower than a size, with Maher’s different contender, Queensland Oaks (G1) 2200m winner Socks Nation (by Sioux Nation ), 2 1/4 lengths behind her profitable stablemate in third.
Together with his profitable Perth raid, Gentle Infantry Man additionally made it a full home for the guests in Ascot’s profitable summer season program, becoming a member of Railway Stakes (G1) winner Port Lockroy (by Higher Than Prepared) and Overpass (by Vancouver ), who snared his second straight Winterbottom Stakes (G1).
“To win right this moment’s race he needed to get the primary 400 meters proper,” stated Brown, who was touchdown his sixth group 1 win. “After that it was straightforward. We bought it proper and that is the way it labored out. I knew I used to be on a match horse and he is a real horse, he is simply been a bit unfortunate this prep.
“Drawing out right this moment actually helped us, he was in a position to lob in a phenomenal spot, we had been in a position to management the race and that is what he wished, only a flowing experience. He confirmed his true colours.”
The consequence capped a stellar 2024 for Maher, this being an eleventh win on the highest degree in 2024.
Saturday’s success offered the late Darley Stud sire Quick Firm together with his third group 1/grade 1 winner, after Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine Jet Setting and Arlington Million (G1T) victor Robert Bruce .
Gentle Infantry Man was a €25,000 (US$26,250, €1=US$1.05) Arqana yearling, and was subsequently bought by Blandford Bloodstock for £82,000 (US$104,509, £=US$1.27) from Mocklershill’s draft on the Goffs UK 2YO Breeze Up Sale.
He’s certainly one of three winners for Kyllachy (Pivotal) mare Lights On Me, herself a four-time winner and half sister to listed winner Select Your Second (Choisir).
