Noble Tune Half-Brother Wins Juvenile Sprint At Del Mar
In a thrilling finish Declarationofpeace, a War Front half-brother to Rathmor sire Noble Tune, under a rousing ride by jockey Ryan Moore forged to the front in the final strides to shade 3-1 favored Sound And Silence and win the $200,000 Qatar Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes (LIST ED), the final stage-setter before nine consecutive Breeders’ Cup championship contests at Del Mar.
Declarationofpeace scored by a head over Sound And Silence who appeared home free under William Buick until collared late by the winner. Sound And Silence was a half-length in front of Out of the Flames, with Corinthia Knight fourth in the field of a dozen two-year-olds. Thus, European-based runners swept the first four positions in the five furlong grass sprint.
Declarationofpeace, owned by Magnier, Tabor and Smith and trained by Aidan O’Brien, sped the distance in 57.23
His Jockey Ryan Moore was quoted as saying: “We’ve always thought highly of this horse. He was having fun out there today. When he made the turn, he got going and we got there. This course is fine. You just need a good horse to win.”
Trainer Aiden O’Brien: “He’s a very fast horse and Ryan (Moore) gave him a very good ride.”
The stakes win was the second of the meet for rider Moore and his second stakes win ever at Del Mar, while the stakes win was the second of the meet for trainer O’Brien and his second stakes win ever at Del Mar.
Declarationofpeace sold for $2,6million at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. He is a half-brother to Noble Tune and Gr1 winner, Honor Code.
Noble Tune, who placed second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on Turf, will have his first two year olds on the racetracks at the end of this year. His sire Unbridled’s Song has had Breeders Cup success once again this year with Forever Unbridled securing her Gr1 Breeders Cup Distaff title yesterday. Arrogate will look to make it two for his sire this evening in the Classic.
