Kentucky-bred Tenebrism rallied furiously late to take down the top prize in the Cheveley Park S. (G1) at Newmarket on Sept. 25. The brilliant performance kept the 2-year-old daughter of Carvaggio undefeated in her first two career starts for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Owned by Westerberg, Coolmore, and Merribelle Stables and piloted by Ryan Moore, Tenebrism rallied strongly along the fence in the race’s late stages to tag Flotus nearing the finish. She won going away by a length.
Out of the top miler Immortal Verse (IRE), by Pivotal (GB), Tenebrism was bred in Kentucky by Merribelle Stables and Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt. She broke her maiden at Naas back in March but came out of the race with a small issue that required some time away from the races. Her scintillating return might lead to a start at the Breeders’ Cup in November.
“I didn’t think it was possible for her to do that, not because of ability but because of the lay-off she’d had,” O’Brien shared with the media following the sharp win. “She had a setback after the last day and was off a long time. She was just literally ready to come racing and I had a knot in my stomach whether it was fair to be running her or not. But there is only one Cheveley Park, and you don’t get horses with the speed and the turn of foot she has very often. That’s why she’s here, really.”