US breeding tops the bill in Norfolk Stakes thriller

American breeding came to the fore in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday as the Wesley Ward-trained filly Shang Shang Shang edged out Pocket Dynamo, a $35,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by his handler Robert Cowell, in a desperately close finish.

Shang Shang Shang, a first winner this week for Ascot trainer par excellence Ward, is a debut Pattern scorer in the northern hemisphere for sophomore stallion Shanghai Bobby, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Shanghai Bobby – by Harlan's Holiday – was a top two-year-old himself, winning the Hopeful Stakes and Champagne Stakes by wide margins before taking the Breeders' Cup Juvenile for trainer Todd Pletcher.

His first northern-hemisphere two-year-olds hit the track last year and he has perhaps fared rather better with his progeny bred south of the equator, with two Grade 1 winners in Brazil – Habile Bobby and Inforcer.

Shanghai Bobby stood at Ashford Stud this year at a fee of $15,000.

Shang Shang Shang was bred by Kris R Del Giudice out of Yankee Victoria, who was Listed-placed over an extended 6f and is out of a daughter of Elderberry Drive, a Listed winner over 7f.

Digging deep into the pedigree, Elderberry Drive's fourth dam is none other than Park Top – a winner at Royal Ascot in 1967 and 1969 in the Ribblesdale and Hardwicke Stakes.

Shanghai Bobby in his paddock at Ashford StudCredit: Coolmore

Although Shang Shang Shang is all about speed, Park Top was outstanding over middle distances, also taking the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Coronation Cup.

Yankee Victoria is, as the name suggests, by Yankee Victor, who has fared well as a broodmare sire. His daughters have also produced this year's Meydan Group 1 winner North America as well as dual Grade 1 scorer Melatonin.

Shang Shang Shang was bought by owners Breeze Easy LLC for $200,000 at the OBS Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in March.

Pocket Dynamo meanwhile just denied a rare big-race success for the A.P. Indy sire-line in Europe. He is by the Mineshaft stallion Dialed In, best known as the source of dual Grade 2 winner and Pegasus World Cup third Gunnevera.

Buyers might be kicking themselves now as the colt went unsold at £170,000 at the Goffs London Sale on Monday evening.

Third home behind Shang Shang Shang and Pocket Dynamo was the Aidan O'Brien-trained Land Force, a son of No Nay Never - who won the Norfolk Stakes for Ward five years ago.

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