Gregorian hits the right note at Santa Anita

Rathasker Stud's Gregorian sealed a first American stakes winner late on Sunday when the similarly-named Gregorian Chant made a rapid move from last to first in the Clocker's Corner at Santa Anita.

A British-bred five-year-old produced by Clarendon Farm, he is from the first crop of the Group 2-winning stallion, who began service at the National Stud before moving across the Irish Sea.

Gregorian Chant becomes the fifth of his sire's sons to strike in black-type class, following last year's exciting French juvenile Plainchant and Group 3 York Summer Stakes winner Queen Jo Jo, as well as two other Listed winners in Italy and Turkey.

Phil D'Amato's charge is one of only two Gregorians registered to have raced in the US, both of which have won races. Gregorian Chant's two previous successes had been in allowance claiming events, while he had also broken his duck on one start over seven furlongs at Dundalk for John Murphy.

Murphy had bought the half-brother to several minor Italian scorers for €23,000 at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale from Moanmore Stables, which had pinhooked him for 7,000gns as a foal from Tattersalls.

It was quite a drop down in distance to six furlongs for the winner, who was last seen competing over a mile and a half in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup as he readily completed a one-two for the trainer over Strike Me Down (Tapit).

"I've got to give Nick Cosato [of owners Slam Dunk Racing] a lot of credit," said D’Amato. He thought of this after his last race. Just remembering what a big turn of foot he had from when we bought him, we thought it was worth a try."

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