Cynane an impressive winner on debut Thursday at Belmont Park (NYRA/Coglianese)
NYRA Press Office
ELMONT, N.Y.— VinLaur Racing Stables, West Paces Racing and Rainbow’s End Racing Stable’s Cynane [pronounced kee-nah-nay] is likely bound for Royal Ascot off a strong debut victory on Thursday at Belmont Park. Trained by Tom Morley, the daughter of Omaha Beach provided her sire with his first winner in the five-furlong maiden special weight over the Widener turf course.
Ridden to victory by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, Cynane led at each point of call under confident handling and kicked clear down the lane to fend off the bid of post-time favorite Sam’s Treasure to her outside. She crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths the best and stopped the clock in 57.61 seconds.
Morley said the talented filly will now be pointed to the five-furlong Group 2, £115,000 Queen Mary for juvenile fillies on June 21.
“That’s the plan at the moment,” said Morley. “She came out of the race really well and she’s got a great mind and really good appetite – she was screaming for her feed tub last night. She jogged sound this morning, so we’ll start putting plans in place to go to the Queen Mary.”
Cynane arrived in Morley’s barn after starting her training at King’s Equine in Ocala, Florida over the winter. Morley said she has impressed him ever since she began breezing over the Belmont training track in March.
“She has never missed a beat – not only with us, but with Raul Reyes in Ocala,” said Morley. “You only get one shot to go to Ascot with these horses and to get there, you have to never miss a day and be good enough to win on debut. Full credit to her, because she has a wonderful temperament and is good as gold.”
Though Cynane’s sire was a three-time Grade 1-winner on dirt, her affinity for turf can be attributed to her strong female family. Her dam, the Arch mare Burning Arch, was a two-time winner at one mile on the lawn and is a half-sister to Cat’s Claw, who won the Waya at 1 1/2 miles on the Saratoga Race Course turf. Cynane’s second dam, the Phipps Stable-bred stakes-placed Chili Cat, is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning turf specialist Point of Entry, as well as Pine Island, a dual Grade 1-winner on dirt.
“She’s got a really, really good female family and is from a really good American turf line from the Phipps family,” said Morley. “She has every right to be a good horse and hopefully she can be.”
Cynane’s royal pedigree attracted attention at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she hammered for $250,000. Bob Scavetta, the managing partner of Rainbow’s End Racing Stable, purchased a minority share in the filly on the recommendation of Morley, who has trained for the partnership since 2016.
“We’re very pleased to have that share. Tom is a master of putting personalities of owners together,” Scavetta said, with a laugh. “Tom loved the filly, and his eyes are the best. It’s a great relationship.”
The filly is named after the Macedonian princess Cynane, a half-sister to Alexander the Great who was a fierce warrior trained in martial arts. Morley said the name is fitting for a horse who is equally feminine as she is audacious.
“It’s quite a sweet name, but if you look up who Cynane was as a person, she was not sweet at all,” Morley said. “It’s a warrior name, it’s fierce and feminine – I think it’s a great name.”
Scavetta said Cynane has the potential to bring him on a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
“We’ve got to consider going to Ascot with her, but the only hook is we have a grandson graduating that week,” said Scavetta. “I’m sure he would understand if papa wasn’t there.”
