Landforce (No Nay Never) Wins G2 Richmond Stakes

No Nay Never’s Land Force Toughs It Out In the Richmond

By Tom Frary

He may not be the flashiest individual to emerge from Ballydoyle, but Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never) is the epitome of what Aidan O’Brien has long referred to as a “hardy” type and his labours proved more than enough to garner Thursday’s G2 Qatar Richmond S. at Goodwood. Justifiably supported into 5-2 favouritism on the back of a third in Royal Ascot’s five-furlong G2 Norfolk S. June 21 and success in the Listed Tipperary S. also over that trip July 5, the Evie Stockwell-bred half-brother to the MGISW Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) pressed the pace early with Ryan Moore intent on leaving no rival unruffled. Forging ahead from the quarter pole, the bay was there to be shot at but his determination was unmatched as he carved out a length success over the similarly tough G3 Anglesey S. winner Marie’s Diamond (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), with a neck back to the G2 Coventry S. fifth Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in third. “He’s a very fast horse and I was left in front too soon, but he’s very game and keeps grinding,” Moore said. “He ran a good race in the Norfolk and doesn’t need to go any further than six. He has a marvellous action and saw it out well.”

Land Force, who was also third in The Curragh’s Listed Marble Hill S. over this trip May 26, was providing his stable with a welcome big-race juvenile winner in Britain and Coolmore’s UK representative Kevin Buckley was buoyed by the outcome. “We are very pleased with that, as he ran on very gamely at the end,” he said. “He fought for Ryan nicely, he was very pleased with his attitude and it was stepping back up to six again–we couldn’t be happier. If you look back at his run at Ascot, that was good form. He is out of a mare by Rock of Gibraltar and is by No Nay Never, so it is fantastic for him to have a group two winner in his first crop. We will probably step him up in class now and whether we look at the [Aug. 19 G1 Prix] Morny [at Deauville] or the [Aug. 12 G1] Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, they could be on the agenda.” The Prix Morny could be on the cards for the resilient Marie’s Diamond according to trainer Mark Johnston. “He got squeezed out of the stalls and knocked a front fetlock, but it was probably a little bit sharp for him,” he commented. “We said seven next, but [jockey] Silvestre [de Sousa] said ‘no, a galloping track over six will be fine’, so he will probably go to the Morny. His last three runs have been very consistent, so we can’t complain about that.”

Land Force is yet another group winner from the outstanding line of Rahaam (Secreto), whose direct influence was felt via her two high-class individuals in this winner’s second dam Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}). The former was successful in the G2 King’s Stand S., G2 Temple S. and this meeting’s G3 King George S. before finishing second in the G1 July Cup, while the G3 Coventry S. winner Verglas was also runner-up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and was making his name as a sire before his premature demise. Four of Rahaam’s other daughters proved stakes producers, but in Cassandra Go she had provided a rare jewel as the former Geoff Wragg-trained speed queen threw Halfway to Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). She took the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Sun Chariot S. and this meeting’s G1 Nassau S. for Ballydoyle before producing three group winners for the operation headed by the G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and her full-sister Magical (Ire) who took last year’s G2 Debutante S. Along with the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S. winner Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Cassandra Go was also responsible for the six-furlong G3 Summer S. winner Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) who continued the excellent record of the family as broodmares by producing the GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo Drive S. winner Photo Call. Theann has a yearling filly by Australia (GB) to follow.

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR RICHMOND S.-G2, £200,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:11.50, gd.
1–LAND FORCE (IRE), 126, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Theann (GB) (GSW-Eng & MGSP-Ire, $143,999), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
1ST GROUP WIN. (€350,000 Ylg ’17 GOFOR). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Mrs Evie Stockwell (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £113,420. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 6-3-0-3, $216,854. *1/2 to Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), MGISW-US, $827,102. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Marie’s Diamond (Ire), 126, c, 2, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Sindiyma (Ire), by Kalanisi (Ire). (€35,000 Ylg ’17 TIRSEP). O-Middleham Park Racing LXXXVI; B-Tony Ashley (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. £43,000.
3–Shine So Bright (GB), 126, c, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Alla Speranza (GB), by Sir Percy (GB). (57,000gns Wlg ’16 TATFOA; €27,000 Ylg ’17 GOFOR). O-King Power Racing Company Ltd; B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £21,520.
Margins: 1, NK, NK. Odds: 2.50, 4.50, 6.50.
Also Ran: Konchek (GB), Sabre (GB), Neverland Rock (GB), Sporting Chance (GB), Cool Reflection (Ire), Charming Kid (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.