Bateel | Scoop Dyga

By Tom Frary

Steadily progressive throughout her career, Bateel had been creeping ever closer to a first top-level success and with every drop of rain that came to Chantilly her prospects of achieving that grew exponentially. Cultivated early by David Simcock, the bay took advantage of soft ground when capturing the Listed Fred Archer S. over this trip at Newmarket last June but was denied that surface on her next two starts when fifth in Deauville’s 10-furlong G1 Prix Jean Romanet in August and when last of 13 in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. back over 12 furlongs at Ascot in October. Tried over 15 furlongs for her debut for the Francis-Henri Graffard stable in the G3 Prix de Barbeville here Apr. 30, she put up a satisfactory comeback effort when second before heading to Haydock for the June 10 G3 Pinnacle S. Granted soft going for the first time since the Fred Archer and re-fitted with the hood she had sported for the first time when opening her black-type account in that, she toyed with some smart rivals including the subsequent Jean Romanet winner Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) but the ground was much quicker at Deauville as she stepped out for the G2 Prix de Pomone last time Aug. 6.

In winning that contest despite the conditions, Bateel showed she was maturing into an all-round top-class mare and with soft ground underfoot once again she was always going to take another step forward. Always travelling strongly in mid-division under a confident Pierre-Charles Boudot as Ajman Princess took no prisoners up ahead, she was involved in some scrimmaging turning out of the back straight which compromised the G1 Nassau S. runner-up Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and led to an inquiry. Following the smooth-travelling Journey as George Strawbridge’s homebred towed her into contention, she came under a ride before that rival but took her measure with just over 300 metres remaining. Asserting as Journey’s game efforts took their toll, she emerged clear-best at the line with the three-length margin back to last year’s winner Left Hand giving the form some gravitas.

For trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, the win took on an extra dimension in a race that holds a special place in his family history. “It was in this race in 1955 that my grandfather Docteur Henri Champliau won with the filly he owned, Wild Miss,” he explained. “It has always been in my mind that I would like to win it myself, so I am very happy. This filly was sent to me in order to try and win a group 1 race with there being more opportunities on soft ground in France and she has gone from strength to strength. Today there was no pressure before the race, but I knew conditions were right and she received a perfect ride.” What happens with Bateel from here is unknown, but her trainer is understandably not afraid to aim high. “When the entries for the Arc were made, she was not even a group 3 winner so I have no regrets about not putting her in,” he said. “She needs to run fresh, so we’ll see as it is only three weeks away but we will not be afraid to supplement her if we think it is right for her. We’ll wait and see, as she also has Ascot’s [Oct. 21 G1 Qipco British Champions] Fillies & Mares.” Journey came out of the race with great credit as she is geared towards a repeat bid in the Fillies & Mares at Ascot and jockey Frankie Dettori commented, “She has run very well and she was beaten by a filly who handled the ground better than her.”

Bateel is a half-sister to the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte winner Basemah, with their dam being the G2 Pretty Polly S. runner-up Attractive Crown whose second dam Arosa won the Prix Messidor and Prix Imprudence. She is also the dam of the G2 Prix Greffulhe-winning sire Arokar (Fr) and his SW and MGSP full-sister La Tirana (Fr), who in turn is the second dam of four black-type performers headed by the G3 Prix Exbury scorer Court Canibal (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). Among Arosa’s descendants are the G3 Prix Chloe winner Holly Golightly (GB) (Robellino) and the G3 Lancashire Oaks and G3 John Porter S. winner Spout (GB) (Salse).

Sunday, Chantilly, France

QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €350,000, CHY, 9-10, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:32.90, sf.

1–BATEEL (IRE), 129, m, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)

1st Dam: Attractive Crown (GSP-Ire), by Chief’s Crown

2nd Dam: Attirance (Fr), by Crowned Prince

3rd Dam: Arosa (GB), by Silver Shark

*1st Group 1 win.O-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd; B-Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nayhan (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €199,900. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 12-7-2-0, €408,777. *1/2 to Basemah (Fr) (Lemon Drop Kid), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Journey (GB), 129, m, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Montare (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-John Gosden. €80,010.

3–Left Hand (GB), 129, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Balladeuse (Fr), by Singspiel (Ire). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €40,005.

Margins: 2HF, 3, HF. Odds: 5.30, 4.10, 7.10.

Also Ran: Traffic Jam (Ire), Strathspey (GB), God Given (GB), Ajman Princess (Ire), The Black Princess (Fr), Baiyouna (Fr), Endless Time (Ire), Blond Me (Ire). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Scat Daddy’s Caravaggio Bounces Back In the Flying Five

 

Caravaggio | racingfotos.com

By Tom Frary

   In a renewal dominated by the 3-year-olds, Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) came through strong despite testing ground to put two defeats behind him. Confidently-backed into 9-10 favouritism, the grey was much quicker from the gates than he had been on his last three starts including when sixth in his well-documented special shoes in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 6. Still needing pushing along by Ryan Moore after halfway, he responded to come between rivals and inhale his pace-setting 50-1 stablemate Alphabet (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) in the final 50 yards for a length success, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Son of Rest (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in third. 

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland

DERRINSTOWN STUD FLYING FIVE S.-G2, €300,000, CUR, 9-10, 3yo/up, 5fT, 1:00.54, s/h.

1–CARAVAGGIO, 129, c, 3, by Scat Daddy

1st Dam: Mekko Hokte (SW-US), by Holy Bull

2nd Dam: Aerosilver, by Relaunch

3rd Dam: Silver in Flight, by Silver Series

O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Windmill Manor Farms Inc. & Petaluma Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €177,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & Ire, 9-7-0-0, $907,681. *1/2 to My Jen (Fusaichi Pegasus), GSW-US, $203,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Alphabet (GB), 126, f, 3, Lawman (Fr)–Applauded (Ire), by Royal Applause (GB). (440,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Norelands Stud & Lofts Hall Stud (GB); T-Aidan O’Brien. €60,000.

3–Son of Rest (GB), 129, c, 3, Pivotal (GB)–Hightime Heroine (Ire), by Danetime (Ire). (40,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; €70,000 Ylg ’15 GOFORB). O-B Parker; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Fozzy Stack. €30,000.

Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.90, 50.00, 9.00.

Also Ran: Caspian Prince (Ire), Cotai Glory (GB), Ardhoomey (Ire), Gorane (Ire), Tis Marvellous (GB), Spirit Quartz (Ire), Duke of Firenze (GB), Pious Alexander (Ire). Scratched: Hit the Bid (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

No Sweat For Frankel’s Cracksman In the Niel

Sunday, September 10, 2017

 

3rd at CHY, Gr. Stk, €130,000

G2 Qatar Prix Niel

(12f)

Winner: Cracksman (GB), c, 3 by Frankel (GB)

 

 

Cracksman | Scoop Dyga

By Tom Frary

If Anthony Oppenheimer or John Gosden had any anxious moments about changing their plan and running Cracksman after his G2 Great Voltigeur S. rout, the homebred put them at ease with another authoritative success under hands and heels. This was a performance that would normally put a 3-year-old in the front line for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but it also marked him as a true stayer who would have unquestionably had Saturday’s G1 St Leger in safe keeping had connections gone that way. It is clear from this dismissal of Andre Fabre’s Arc hopes that his performance in that Aug. 23 York contest took nothing out of him and his participation in any of the upcoming autumn showcase races will depend on how he continues from here.

Settled second early by Frankie Dettori as Finche strode on, they passed the chateau in a display of Frankel power and turning for home there was only a brief period when Frankie looked animated with Vincent Cheminaud still apparently sitting pretty on the leader. Cracksman had needed time to engage his full stride in his Derbys at Epsom and The Curragh and he again required building up here but as soon as he was comfortable he brushed aside the front-runner approaching the two-furlong marker. From there he had the other Fabre runner Avilius to keep him at it but there was an inevitability about his progress from there to the line and at the close of the race he was once more at his most impressive.

The forces behind Cracksman have a quandary now. The Arc will be an entirely different test to this and if he does not enjoy clear sailing around here he could find himself getting going too late and if he is sent on early he risks a prolonged battle with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Ascot’s G1 Champion S. could be a more appealing option, especially if it is staged on soft ground but the chances are that he will be put away now with his ego inflated. “We are obviously very happy with the performance, as what we did not want was the horse to have a hard race because he is still maturing and will definitely be a much better horse next year at four,” Oppenheimer said. “In the Derby, he was still rather weak and in the Irish Derby Pat Smullen said to give him a little more time to strengthen and he was stronger at York. We figured if he was to run again in a major race this year, he needed one race in between and the timing of this was perfect. He won like we hoped and now it is a question of making a decision about what happens next. If he runs in the Arc, we will have to use another jockey and I’m not certain we want that but it will also be whether we want him to have a hard race in the Arc or Champion Stakes or put him away. We all know he will be much better next year, so that is the question John Gosden will have to face.” Frankie left no doubt as to his loyalties regarding the showpiece in three weeks’s time. “The pace was not very strong, but he won quite comfortably and as we all keep saying will most definitely be stronger next year,” he said. “I will ride Enable in the Arc.”

While it is debatable whether Cracksman is Frankel’s best so far, given how well Eminent (Ire) has done of late, he is certainly top two. His liking for easy ground on his last two starts is probably largely down to his dam Rhadegunda being comfortable when it rode testing as she proved when winning the Listed Prix Solitude. Interestingly, her first foal was the G3 Solario S. scorer Fantastic Moon who never raced on ground slower than good. The third dam is the 1000 Guineas and Sussex S. heroine On the House, who raced exclusively on a sound surface and handled firm. She is also the second dam of the G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Leo (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) from the family of the Oppenheimers’s 1997 G1 Coronation S. winner Rebecca Sharp (GB) (Machiavellian) and the G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Rhadegunda’s 2-year-old colt by New Approach (Ire) is named Military Band (GB). 

Sunday, Chantilly, France

QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €130,000, CHY, 9-10, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:37.78, sf.

1–CRACKSMAN (GB), 128, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)

1st Dam: Rhadegunda (GB) (SW-Fr), by Pivotal (GB)

2nd Dam: St Radegund (GB), by Green Desert

3rd Dam: On the House, by Be My Guest

O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Studs (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. €74,100. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, 6-4-1-1, €721,082. *1/2 to Fantastic Moon (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Avilius (GB), 128, c, 3, Pivotal (GB)–Alessandria (GB), by Sunday Silence. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.

3–Finche (GB), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Binche, by Woodman. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.

Margins: 3HF, 1, 4. Odds: 0.40, 7.80, 4.20.

Also Ran: Ice Breeze (GB), Walsingham (Ger). 

Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

fonte : TDN