The Chris Waller-trained Frankel filly Hungry Heart would be on many shortlists as a potential star in the spring, however Yulong’s Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes winner did not have to step out on the track to have her worth increase significantly overnight.
Hungry Heart’s dam Harlech (Pivotal) is a half-sister to the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained 4yp mare Maamora (IRE) who led every step of the way in the Group III Atalanta stakes at Sandown Park to earn a maiden stakes success.
Making her first start since finishing third in the Group II Balanchine Stakes at Meydan on Saturday, the daughter of Dubawi kept up a relentless gallop in the straight under William Buick to hold the challenge of Billesdon Brook (Champs Elysees) by half a length with Lavender's Blue (Sea The Stars) a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
“We kept her in training to try to win a Group race this year,” Ed Crisford told Sporting Life.
“She ran well in Dubai and finished third in the Balanchine over a mile-one and we thought this would be a perfect target for her and she did it nicely. I’m glad we got that Group win with her.
“She had to do quarantine after Meydan and the flight was delayed a little bit, so it just a took a little bit of time to get her back with all the travel restrictions, but she has been training nicely at home.
“It was a beautiful ride by William as he jumped her out and got his fractions right. There was some seriously good kit in behind, so she really toughed it out. She does love it from the front. This is a good front-runners track and it suited her well.
I think the (Group 1) Sun Chariot will be her big end-of-season target. Whether there is something before, a Group Two, I don’t know, but the Sun Chariot will be her race.”
Exciting times ahead for Yulong with Harlech (GB). Purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock/Yulong Investments for 60,000gns from the Godolphin draft at the 2016 Tattersalls July Sale, Harlech (GB) has a 2yo colt (watch him parade below as a yearling) and a yearling filly by the 4-time Australian champion sire Snitzel. She was not covered last spring.
Maamora (IRE) becomes the 187th stakes-winner for Dubawi (IRE) who has one of the most exciting newcomers to stand at stud in Australia this spring in Darley Stud’s triple Group 1 winner Too Darn Hot (IRE) who joins Swettenham stud’s Akeed Mofeed (GB) in representing the former Darley shuttler in 2020.
