Classy three-year-old Lead Artist, a close relative of Mauritzfontein’s successful sire Ideal World, picked up his second group win when victorious in the G3 Space Blues Darley Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Dubawi colt got back to winning ways when running on strongly to claim the Darley Stakes.
A winner of the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood earlier in the season, Lead Artist proved no match for Kinross at Doncaster last month, but with the extra two furlongs to suit, John and Thady Gosden’s son of Dubawi ran on strongly to regain the winning thread.
The well-backed 5/4 market leader looked to be travelling much the best when the field of eight approached the final two furlongs, but under an all-action Kieran Shoemark drive, Lead Artist began to pick up momentum.
Shoemark’s mount soon struck the front and stayed on strongly to land the spoils by a length and a half. Lead Artist’s stablemate Peace Man produced a fine effort on his first start for over a year finishing a further two and a quarter lengths behind in third.
“He’s done everything right and he came second to a very good horse who is a multiple Group 1 winner (Kinross) at Doncaster last time,” said John Gosden of the 3/1 winner. “I think the door is open now to probably go a mile and a quarter with him next year. He has been slow to come to himself but he has improved dramatically both physically and mentally and I think next year will be an exciting time for him. He’s in the Bahrain Trophy and that could be a place we run before coming back next year.”
Now a three time winner from six starts, Lead Artist is out of the Frankel mare Obligate.
The latter, winner of the G2 Prix de Sandringham and Listed Prix des Lilas, is herself out of the unraced Oasis Dream mare Responsible, with Responsible a half-sister to champion sire Dansili and five G1 winners.
Responsible’s five G1 winning half-siblings include G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winning champion Banks Hill, the dam of French G1 winner Romantica as well as the highly successful Ideal World.
