The Qatar Racing Limited-owned colt MILLENNIAL MOON (Dubawi x Wekeela) showed plenty of improvement for his second start when taking the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Yarmouth, UK, on Wednesday, September 15th.
Running green when sixth on his debut at Newmarket 11 days earlier, the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt proved much more professional on his second outing and put up an eye-catching performance under a confident ride from Cieren Fallon.
Breaking alertly from stall 5, MILLENNIAL MOON was quickly placed amongst the leaders through the opening stages of the 1,400m contest for two-year-olds. The free going VINTAGE FASHION (Iffraaj) set a strong pace thought the first half of the race, with both COURT OF SESSION (Iffraaj) and strong-travelling MILLENNIAL MOON seeking cover from the leader. Inside the final 500m, MILLENNIAL MOON remained firmly on the bridle and was going best of the eight runners. Despite being carried across the track inside the final 400m by the hanging VINTAGE FASHION, MILLENNIAL MOON still travelled powerfully. The colt was asked to go clear of his rivals inside the final 200m and he easily pulled three lengths clear of the fading VINTAGE FASHION. Although running a shade greenly in the closing stages, Millennial Moon went on to score by a comfortable two and a half lengths from the slow-starting debutant NATIONS PRIDE (Teofilo), while CONSERVATIVE (Churchill) caught the eye and stayed on eye-catchingly to take third.
Bred by The Wekeela Partnership, MILLENNIAL MOON is by Darley’s exceptional stallion DUBAWI (Dubai Millennium). His dam WEKEELA (Hurricane Run) won three races, including the Group 3 Prix Chloe at Chantilly and the Group 3 Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park, USA. She also finished second twice at Group 1 level in the USA. MILLENNIAL MOON is her first produce. A full sister to WEKEELA, MATAURI PEARL (Hurricane Run) finished second in the Listed Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes at Ovreoll, Norway, and has produced the 2020 Gr 1 Breeders Cup Juvenille Fillies winner LADY PEARL (Lope De Vega).
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club