Breeders' Cup International Scouting Report: Campanelle

The latest Wesley Ward trainee to make her name in Europe, Campanelle is nonetheless different from his usual types in that she is an Irish import. Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, home of her prolific sire Kodiac, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf prospect was sold as a yearling at Tattersalls October for 190,000 guineas.

Campanelle’s dam, Janina, was herself a precocious juvenile who won the 5-furlong Marygate at York and finished sixth of 20 in the 6-furlong Albany (G3) at Royal Ascot in 2007. Janina was a daughter of pure sprinters Namid and Lady Dominatrix, who beat males in the 2002 World Trophy (G3) and Pavilion.

Thus Campanelle is living up to her pedigree as a smart 2-year-old with speed. Although stablemate Royal Approval was favored in their mutual debut at Gulfstream Park, it was no surprise that Campanelle was simply faster than that Tiznow filly in a 5-furlong dash May 31.

Both made the turnaround for the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot, and again, Campanelle was better suited by conditions – this time, rain-affected ground. The booking of Frankie Dettori underscored the point that Campanelle was Ward’s top hope. Although she had the pace to race in striking distance on the far side, Campanelle had to be nudged along at one point as rival Sacred was traveling more easily. But Campanelle found much more to defeat Sacred, who later upheld the form with Group 2 placings to Miss Amulet and Ubettabelieveit (Juvenile Turf Sprint).

The manner of her victory suggested that Campanelle would enjoy another furlong, and so she did in the Prix Morny (G1) versus males. The favorite in the about 6-furlong test at Deauville, she took the blinkers off, set the pace, and kept on plowing through the soft going for a daylight win. Runner-up Nando Parrado, coming off a shock win in Royal Ascot’s Coventry (G2), was subsequently blown away by Sealiway (Juvenile Turf) on Arc Day. Morny third Rhythm Master was also beaten in his ensuing start, placing third again in the Mill Reef (G2).

As a Queen Mary and Morny winner, Campanelle’s profile superficially resembles Ward’s Lady Aurelia, likewise a Stonestreet runner. But Lady Aurelia shaped like a true sprinter, running off the screen in the Queen Mary before a more workmanlike Morny.

Conversely, Campanelle’s closer call in the Queen Mary, and decisive performance in the Morny, hint that she can go further. Dettori himself observed that Campanelle is a different physical type – bigger with a long stride – and Ward explicitly made the comparison to his 2014 Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny, who also stretched out from the Morny.

A two-turn mile in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf appears within her compass, and her tactical speed and ground versatility will serve her well. The one question is if she’s maintaining her edge over later-developing types who are coming into their own at this stage of the season.