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Despite having to share favouritism, it was no surprise to see Palmar Bay add another success to his tally in the 6f Class 2 British EBF Radcliffe & Co Conditions Stakes at Salisbury on Thursday 5 October.
It was the Ralph Beckett-trained colt's first attempt over six furlongs and he sat prominently under Hector Crouch, before being asked to give an effort at the two furlong marker, where he began to go through the gears. It appeared Palmar Bay may struggle to get past the long-term leader and joint-favourite Solar Aclaim from the Roger Teal yard, but the colt seemed to relish a head-to-head battle and kept on well to win by three-quarters of a length with Von Baer back in third.
Palmar Bay boasts some notable form for a juvenile who has not been tried in either Group company or a valuable sales race, having lowered the colours of subsequent Group 2 July Stakes winner Jasour on his second racecourse start. The form of that race continues to be boosted by the exploits of the third-placed Mr Baloo, who has claimed two handicap victories in the last month.
It is also worth looking back at Palmar Bay's debut in a Windsor novice stakes in early May, which made headlines when favourite Revenue collided with a goose mid-race. Although it appeared that the winner Tears Of A Clown had an easy run through the race and her five-length success over Palmar Bay was in part due to the goose incident, the form has worked out correctly with the winner placing in Listed company on her only subsequent start.
By Exceed And Excel, Palmar Bay hails from a maternal Aga Khan line. His dam Di Fede (Shamardal) was bred and raced by Robert Ng and achieved plenty of success on the racetrack, with two Listed victories over seven furlongs, including the competitive October Stakes at Ascot in 2018. She achieved five wins over a twenty-two race career and was precocious enough to score twice as a two-year-old. Palmar Bay is her first foal to reach the track.
Di Fede is out of the Aga Khan-bred mare Dibiya (Caerleon), who was bought for 42,000 euros at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale in 2012. The mare was a shrewd purchase and her page was subsequently given a considerable boost by the exploits of 2010 foal Dibayani, who had placed twice in Listed company as a juvenile at the time of Dibiya's sale. He went on to achieve considerably more, winning at Listed level in Ireland as a three-year-old before placing multiple times in Listed company in Hong Kong, including a third in the 2014 Hong Kong Derby. Once purchased by Robert Ng, the gelding was transferred to Australia where he continued to enhance his credentials by placing at Group 1 and Group 2 level. Although Dibayani only won twice in a thirty-race career, he amassed earnings of £645,955 across three different racing jurisdictions.
With two victories from three starts, Palmar Bay looks ready for a sterner test but holds no entries for the remainder of the season.
