Rabbah Bloodstock’s homebred Choisya held off a late challenge from Excellent Truth and withstood an objection from jockey Flavien Prat to earn a half-length victory in the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday, 12 April.
While it marked the first G1 win for the five-year-old Night Of Thunder mare, it was her third straight Graded Stakes victory, following wins in the G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine Stakes, both at Meydan.
Choisya broke well under jockey Luis Saez and settled into third, as the speedy Kehoe Beach went to the front to set the pace. Kehoe Beach was tracked closely by Be Your Best, with Choisya just one-and-a-half lengths further back as she saved ground along the inside hedge.
Midway through the far turn, Kehoe Beach drifted out, leaving a sizable gap on the inside fence. Without hesitation, Saez and Choisya burst through the seam and struck the front as the field entered the home straight. As Choisya battled with a tenacious Kehoe Beach on her outside, Excellent Truth was full of run and closing rapidly.
With a furlong left to run, Excellent Truth tried to split between those two but was shut off and forced to steady when the seam suddenly closed. Excellent Truth then dove toward the inside hedge and re-rallied but had to settle for second, just a half-length behind Choisya. An objection was lodged by Flavien Prat, the rider of Excellent Truth, but after a lengthy deliberation, the result was allowed to stand.
Choisya was bred Great Britain and is out of the Stakes-placed Singspiel mare Fragrancy, also dam of multiple Stakes winner and Group-placed Pelerin (Shamardal). They are from the family of Dubawi’s multiple G1 winner Wuheida.
Night Of Thunder is Dubawi’s best proven stallion son and last year sired G1 Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics, plus G1 Fillies’ Mile heroine Desert Flower.
