Rainbow View Regains Winning Form in Matron

Rainbow View registered her first victory of the season as she rolled to a two-length win over Heaven Sent in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes (Ire-I) at Leopardstown Sept. 5.

Undefeated last season as a 2-year-old, Rainbow View hadn’t been as fortunate so far this season, going winless in her previous five starts, which all were in group I company. The John Gosden-trained daughter of Dynaformer signaled a turnaround in her last start, when she ran a strong second to Midday in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood.

Fitted with cheek-pieces for the first time, Rainbow View was all business in the Matron, settling comfortably into fourth under Jimmy Fortune as Totally Devoted went to the front and set a strong pace under Colm O’Donoghue.

Again, winner of the Boylesports.com Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) earlier this year, tracked her pacesetting stablemate from second and appeared poised to take over the lead two furlongs from home.  Jockey Johnny Murtagh was hard at work aboard the classic winner, but Again had no response to Murtagh’s urgings.

Fortune had Rainbow View right where he wanted her, and the pair shot to the front with a furlong to go and drew off down the lane to win easily.

Heaven Sent, a 6-year-old daughter of Pivotal, rallied late to take second, finishing 4 1/2 lengths in front of a fading Again. Final time for the eight furlongs was 1:39.89 over the good to yielding turf course.

Gosden was pleased with Rainbow View's performance, telling reporters, “She did it well.  We’ve had other fillies come to themselves at this time of year, so we’ve been patient.

“I'd say she is probably back to her best now,” Gosden continued. “The Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I) is the obvious spot, but she will be entered for the E.P. Taylor Stakes (Can-IT at Woodbine) and then there is the Breeders' Cup in November.

“There’s the Filly and Mare Turf, although our Dar Re Mi has earned a place in that after her Pretty Polly win, but she could also run on the main track -- after all someone has got to take on Zenyatta.”

Rainbow View races for her breeder, George Strawbridge. She is out of the Nureyev mare No Matter What, who captured the 2000 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT). No Matter What is a half-sister to grade II winner E Dubai, and is also closely related to 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Raven's Pass.

Regal Parade Upsets Betfred Sprint Cup

Last with just under two furlongs to run, Regal Parade unleashed a furious rally under jockey Adrian Nicholls to take the lead just 60 yards from the wire, snatching victory away from Fleeting Spirit in the Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) at Haydock Park Sept. 5.

Trained by David "Dandy" Nicholls and ridden by his son, Regal Parade was dismissed at odds of 14-1 in the six-furlong contest. Favoritism fell on Fleeting Spirit, a 4-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit who had captured the Darley July Cup (Eng-I) in her last start.

Fleeting Spirit, ridden by regular rider Tom Queally, traveled smoothly during the early stages while tracking the pace before taking command with just over a furlong to run. She appeared to have the race at her mercy, but Regal Parade was splitting rivals from the back of the pack and collared Fleeting Spirit just a few yards from the wire.

Regal Parade captured the Sprint Cup by a half-length over Fleeting Spirit, who took second by two lengths over High Standing. Final time for the six furlongs was 1:13.74 over the good turf course.

Regal Parade is a 5-year-old chestnut gelding by Pivotal, out of the winning Kingmambo mare Model Queen. Bred in England by Highclere and Harry Herbert and owned by Dab Hand Racing, Regal Parade hails from the same female family as champions/group I winners Zafonic, Reams of Verse and Elmaamul.