Irish-bred Nations Pride, expertly handled by Frankie Dettori, drew off to a six-and-a-quarter length score in the $1 million G3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational, a 12-furlong turf test for three-year-olds at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on Saturday, 17 September.
Trained by Charlie Appleby for owner-breeder Godolphin, the victory provided the son of Teofilo with wins in two-thirds of the Turf Triple series. He finished a closing second to returning rival Classic Causeway after a troubled trip under Dettori in the opening leg, the $1 million G1 Belmont Derby Invitational in July, before winning under William Buick in the $1 million G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational in August.
Classic Causeway quickly jumped to the lead out of the starting gate with Daunt pressing from second position and Nations Pride saving ground in third.
Nations Pride moved closer approaching the final turn with Ardakan advancing wide under Andrasch Starke from fourth. Dettori and Nations Pride needed racing room on the far turn, finally finding a narrow opening at the quarter-pole. They were then able to angle out and launch a powerful rally on their way to posting a course record victory in a final time of 2:24.14.
Nations Pride is out the Stakes-winning mare Important Time (by Oasis Dream), who in turn is out of the G1 winner, Satwa Queen. Important Time is a half-sister to Queen of Carthage (Cape Cross), who is the dam of G1 winner Lucky Vega. Important Time produced a full sister to Nations Pride this season.
Teofilo is enjoying a magnificent 2022, not only with Nations Pride but also with West Wind Blows, recent winner of the G3 Prix du Prince d’Orange at ParisLongchamp. He is also the broodmare sire of the English 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas winners (Cachet and Coroebus), the G1 Preis der Diana heroine (Toskana Belle), the German 2,000 Guineas winner Maljoom, and G1 Prix d’Ispahan and Prix du Moulin victress Dreamloper.
