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29.
Langfuhr
Grabs First Group One Winner
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10/09/2002 |
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Godolphin's
Imperial Gesture won the US$250,000 Group 1 Gazelle Handicap over 1700 metres at
Belmont Park in America on Saturday.
From Langfuhr's first crop she assumed command as soon as the field left the
gates and repulsed a charge from runner-up Take Charge Lady to score by two and
half lengths.
Runner up in last years G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile, Imperial Gesture opened this
year with a pair of stakes victories in Dubai and did not run well when
returning for the Group 1 Kentucky Oaks in the spring.
Imperial Gesture was freshened after that by her trainer Saeed bin Suroor and
returned to competition with an impressive six-length romp at Saratoga in her
previous start.
Left to her own devices on the front end she had more than enough left to repel
Take Charge Lady's bid to earn her first stakes victory after two Group 1
placings as a two year old.
"After the Oaks, we basically took our time with her," said Tom
Albertrani assistant to Saeed bin Suroor.
"She's always been highly regarded, Jose Santos was double handed all the
way round there."
Imperial Gesture has now earned more than US$600,000 from a nine start five wins
and two seconds career after being purchased as a weanling for US$350,000 at the
Keenland November sale and is the 13th foal from the unraced Honor an Offer by
Hoist the Flag.
Furthermore, on Sunday unbeaten Langfuhr 2-year-old Wando stepped up to group
company with a second, going down by a head in the $300,000 Group 2 Summer
Stakes at Woodbine over a mile and he looks like having a very bright future and
a Group 1 start not far away.
With 11 winners from his first small crop of only 19 runners from 47 foals in
Australia including Group 1 Guineas bound Frightening and Broadband and
promising horses Luna Scene, Shalang and Durrah it is no wonder the horse is
fully booked at Vinery for 2002.
Interestingly, Langfuhr covered the biggest book of mares on Vinery over the
past 3 seasons and will again this year, insuring breeders plenty of continuity
through the system over the coming years.
Vinery Australia Media Release
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