Lancashire Oaks win for Dancer’s daughter Anna
6th July 2008
The admirable Danehill Dancer mare Anna Pavlova (5m Danehill Dancer-Wheeler’s Wonder, by Sure Blade) bagged the second G2 success of her career at Haydock on Saturday when running away with the Lancashire Oaks.
Richard Fahey’s charge had finished third in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh a week earlier and forged home in the final furlong under Paul Hanagan at Haydock to finish three and a quarter lengths clear of Ezima (4f Sadler’s Wells-Ezilla, by Darshaan).
"It's like winning the Derby, it's absolutely brilliant," said Hanagan, who was born just a few miles from Haydock. "They went a decent clip, which always helps, and when she gets that ground she's very good. It was a bit quicker than ideal though, as she wants it as though the meeting's nearly called off.
"I would call the going soft but I was quite surprised as the time was standard. Obviously it wasn't too quick and she got away with it."
Anna Pavlova, who was carrying a 3lb penalty because of her success in last season’s G2 Prix de Royallieu, was bred by Raymond Cowie and is owned by the 20-person Galaxy Racing syndicate.
Danehill Dancer also had a black-type juvenile winner on Saturday when the Paul Cole-trained Abbeyside (2c Danehill Dancer-Trois Grace, by Alysheba) made a successful debut in the Listed Prix Yacowlef over five furlongs at Deauville.
The winner, a 65,000gns foal who was bred by Paulyn Ltd, finished three-quarters of a length clear of Pure Joy and looks a colt with a big future.