‘This was a proper Group 1′ – Recoletos gives Alpha Centauri form a big boost
A year ago Carlos Laffon-Parias was weighing up his options for Recoletos between the Arc and the British Champion Stakes. Fast forward 12 months and a late surge past Wind Chimes brought a second Group 1 for the son of Whipper, who now holds strong claims to be considered the best older horse over a mile in Europe.
While his top-level breakthrough in the Prix d’Ispahan over 1m1f in May may not have caused too many ripples outside France, here Olivier Peslier had Expert Eye, Lightning Spear and Without Parole among those in his rear-view mirror.
This was a fine endorsement of Alpha Centauri, who beat Recoletos by two and a half lengths in the Prix Jacques le Marois and who will be expected to extend her Group 1 winning streak to five as long as the ground permits her to take her chance in next Saturday’s Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
A delighted Laffon-Parias said: “I had the best horse and the best jockey in the race – Olivier has been with me for all my best triumphs – and when he came there I thought he would win more easily, but Wind Chimes really fought hard at the end.
“What he’s done this year has been extraordinary and this was a proper Group 1. We have beaten all the best around except, of course, Alpha Centauri and he deserves to find a good place at stud.”
Coral make Recoletos 11-2 second favourite (from 8) for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, a course where he has enjoyed mixed fortunes.
Before his reinvention as a miler, Recoletos ran a fine fourth in last year’s Qipco Champion Stakes but then lost his race before he had reached the parade ring in June after boiling over following a visit from BHA vets ahead of the Queen Anne Stakes.
“In the normal run of things, the logical next step is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, although I hope it goes better than last time,” said Laffon-Parias. “There’s the Breeders’ Cup to consider as well and we could decide to skip Ascot and go straight there. But in principle it will be the QEII.”
Ascot could also feature in plans for third home Expert Eye, who added a second placed effort at Group 1 level and turned the tables on his Sussex Stakes conqueror Lightning Spear, who finished in fifth.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, said: “Expert Eye has run a very solid race. He didn’t quite get the opening when he most wanted it but he’s run really well and he’s still improving. We’ll have to look at the Breeders’ Cup and probably the QEII, depending on how he goes after this.”
Lightning Spear’s chances were not helped by a wide draw and Oisin Murphy was unable to conjure the same burst of acceleration as at Goodwood.
“It was a messy race and it didn’t quite pan out,” said trainer David Simcock. ”We probably weren’t in the place we really wanted to be but we tracked the winner and he quickened better than us today. He’s run all the way to the line but just hasn’t quickened the way he can.”
Andre Fabre was pleased with the run of both runner-up Wind Chimes and Plumatic, who was just run out of third by Expert Eye having looked a potential winner halfway up the straight.
“They ran well and I’m pleased with both,” said Fabre. “The plan [from here] was to run Wind Chimes in the Prix de l’Opera but now I have a doubt about the distance. The Sun Chariot could be an option. The other thing is to try a bit further but we’ll have to see. Plumatic may have hit the front a bit soon. He will go to the Daniel Wildenstein and then the Breeders’ Cup.”
Full result (fonte : RacingPost)
Whipper’s Recoletos Swoops To Conquer In the Moulin
| 5th at LCP, Gr. Stk, €450,000 | G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp | (8f) | Winner: Recoletos (Fr), c, 4 by Whipper |
Recoletos (right) | ScoopDyga
By Tom Frary
Second fiddle to Europe’s current miler par excellence Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, SARL Darpat’s Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) provided further enhancement to that Niarchos homebred’s credibility on Sunday when denying a clutch of other 3-year-olds in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Prix du Moulin. Held up early as Olivier Peslier demonstrated his habitual and rightful confidence, the 23-10 favourite was delivered with the Papillon’s unerring timing to catch the filly Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the shade of the post and score by a head as the strong-finishing Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) closed to be 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “This is well-deserved–a top-class filly beat him last time and this was a proper group one race on firm ground which he has always gone best on,” trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias commented. “It was a great ride from a top jockey, as ever. If he goes to Ascot, it will be for the [Oct. 20 G1] Queen Elizabeth II and then the Breeders’ Cup Mile and we hope we can find him a place at stud.”
While Recoletos is capable of a high standard over 10 furlongs and slightly further, as he proved when winning last year’s G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud and G3 Prix du Prince d’Orange at Maisons-Laffitte and finishing third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, he has proved truly potent in the category from a mile to the extended nine furlongs over which he collected this venue’s G1 Prix d’Ispahan May 27. That followed a smooth success in Saint-Cloud’s G2 Prix du Muguet over a mile at the start of May and his trainer believes he had already run his race before the stalls opened for the June 19 G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, having been forced to undergo a blood test beforehand which blew him off course. Still beaten only just over three lengths when seventh there, the bay rebounded to run second in a strong edition of the Marois at Deauville Aug. 12 and this was a return to a mile around a turn which so obviously suits his style.
Peslier was content sitting worse than mid-division as the stable’s pacemaker Oriental (Jpn) (Smart Strike) took on Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to create an ideal scenario up ahead and he had a clear run in the straight as Plumatic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the first to make a positive move. Wind Chimes, who had come from the back when third in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, was closer this time and as she threw down her challenge it looked for a brief period that it would count but Recoletos was rolling down the outside and his flourish was just too strong for the year-younger grey to withstand. Expert Eye put aside any stamina fears here, finishing as if he needs further and putting in a career-best as he reversed the G1 Sussex S. form with Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who was never nearer than at the line in fifth.
Recoletos’s dam is the unraced Highphar (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}), who is also responsible for the stable’s 3-year-old filly Castellar (Fr) (American Post {GB}) who has captured last month’s G2 Prix de la Nonette and the G3 Prix Cleopatre. Their GII Garden City Breeders’ Cup H.-winning second dam Pharatta (Ire) (Fairy King) is kin to the G2 Premio Ribot and G2 Grosser Preis von Dusseldorf-winning sire Crimson Tide (Ire) and two other useful performers in Tamarind (Ire) and Arosa (Ire) all by Sadler’s Wells. The third dam Shademah (Ire) (Thatch), a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Shakapour (Ire) (Kalamoun {GB}), is also the dam of the G1 English and Irish Derby hero Shahrastani (Nijinsky II). Highphar also has a 2-year-old who is a full-sister to Recoletos named Villalar (Fr) and a filly foal by Adlerflug (Ger).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €450,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-9, 3yo/up, c/f, 8fT, 1:36, gd.
1–RECOLETOS (FR), 129, c, 4, by Whipper
1st Dam: Highphar (Fr), by Highest Honor (Fr)
2nd Dam: Pharatta (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Sharata (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-SARL Darpat France (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Olivier Peslier. €257,130. Lifetime Record: 13-7-1-1, €1,098,563. *1/2 to Castellar (Fr) (American Post {GB}), MGSW-Fr, $160,165. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Wind Chimes (GB), 122, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Militante (Ire), by Johannesburg. (€130,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €102,870.
3–Expert Eye (GB), 125, c, 3, Acclamation (GB)–Exemplify (GB), by Dansili (GB). O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. €51,435.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, SNK. Odds: 2.30, 7.70, 6.30.
Also Ran: Plumatic (GB), Lightning Spear (GB), Without Parole (GB), Homerique, Wootton (Fr), Royal Julius (Ire), Intellogent (Ire), Oriental (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. (fonte : TDN)
PARISLONGCHAMP : ANODOR DOUBLE LA MISE
FACILE LAURÉAT POUR SES DÉBUTS À DEAUVILLE DU PRIX DE CRÈVECOEUR, ANODOR ÉTAIT TRÈS ATTENDU DANS LE PRIX DES CHÊNES. COMME LORS DE SES PREMIERS PAS PUBLICS, LE FILS D’ANODIN S’IMPOSE NETTEMENT DE BOUT EN BOUT.
Pour ses débuts, Anodor avait crevé l’écran en s’imposant de bout en bout dans le Prix de Crèvecoeur, face à des rivaux qui ont ensuite prouvé leur valeur. A tel point qu’à l’issue de ce succès, le 2 ans avait changé de propriétaire et troqué la casaque de Madame Frédéric Head pour celle de Jean-Louis Bouchard.
Un achat (à 50 %) visiblement très judicieux puisque le pensionnaire de Freddy Head se montre une nouvelle fois souverain ce dimanche dans le Prix des Chênes. Le partenaire d’Aurélien Lemaitre contrôle la course d’un bout à l’autre et triomphe de 2 longueurs devant Insandi, toujours pointé dans son sillage et l’attentiste Shaman, à créditer d’un bel effort final.
Arrivée : 2-5-7-4 (fonte : Equidià)
Domenica “vivace” a San Siro galoppo, con i tre anni protagonisti di gran parte delle prove del pomeriggio, compreso il Premio Buccinasco, handicap sui 2000 metri in pista media dove Determination, dopo una striscia di cinque piazze d’onore consecutive, ha finalmente centrato la prima meritata vittoria in carriera: la portacolori della scuderia Effevi, ancora piuttosto “dura” da portare avanti, ha inscenato una bella progressione sotto la spinta di Dario Vargiu (doppio nel pomeriggio) e nel finale è venuta a regolare chiaramente il battistrada Capo San Martino. Notturno Ligure ha provato a muovere ad inizio dirittura sul battistrada ma è calato nei 200 finali e sul palo ha subito la rimonta di Cat delle Rose, prevalente per il terzo posto, mentre Faradays Spark non ha saputo cambiare passo in retta e non è riuscita a unirsi alla lotta.
Missione compiuta per il rientrante (e favorito) Space Oddity nel Premio Lazzate, reclamare sui 1800 metri in pista media: tenuto coperto il più a lungo possibile da Claudio Colombi (che ben conosce le caratteristiche del suo allievo), il cavallo allenato e di proprietà di Maria Moneta non ha avuto difficoltà a volare via i rivali con uno scatto ai 250 finali: l’outsider Thinking Loud ha provato la gara da leader ma non ha saputo assolutamente cambiare passo e si è spento nell’ultimo furlong, così la volata per il secondo posto è stata vinta da Sotintes, energicamente sostenuto da Dario Vargiu per respingere Crystal Tango, con Credarola quarta all’interno con qualche recriminazione per aver trovato tardi lo spazio per sprintare.
Prima vittoria in carriera per Catching Fire nel Premio Aterno, una “maiden” sui 2000 metri in pista media per cavalli di tre anni: in realtà la portacolori della scuderia New Age era maiden solo per caso visto che la sua corsa l’avrebbe già vinta senza la caduta di cui era stata vittima a settembre. Il “caratterino” però la figlia di Ramonti lo ha mostrato anche oggi, sbandando verso l’esterno non appena passata in vantaggio (intralciando Solande): Dario Vargiu è stato bravo a rimetterla in carreggiata e la cavalla di Alduino Botti ha così condotto in porto la vittoria. Arrivo strettissimo per il secondo posto, con Natoire prevalente su Avamac all’interno e sulla sfortunata Solande.
Anche Temple Church ha sfruttato al meglio la ghiotta occasione offerta dal Premio Levi, una maiden sui 1500 metri in pista media per cavalli di tre anni, per centrare la prima vittoria della carriera: seppure al rientro, la portacolori della scuderia Incolinx (Nicolo’ Simondi al training) ha dimostrato di parlare un’altra lingua rispetto ai rivali di giornata e, ben calibrata in avanti da Fabio Branca, si è imposta comodamente allungando con disinvoltura nei 200 finali. L’ex Dunlop Global Wealth (al debutto sulle piste italiane) ha provato a tastare il polso alla favorita appena in dirittura, non ha saputo replicare all’allungo della vincitrice ma ha controllato Acire Xam per il secondo posto.
Nel Premio Rosate, handicap sui 1500 metri in pista media sempre per cavalli di tre anni, nonostante i 64 chili in sella Helegant Man è tornato alla vittoria, la prima per i colori della scuderia La Rosa Blu: ben dosato da Tore Sulas, il cavallo allenato da Marinella Arienti ha “scortato” la battistrada Grace Tango per attaccarla lungo la dirittura e passare di forza nei 100 finali. Grace Tango negli ultimi metri ha accusato la fatica ed è stata battuta anche per il secondo posto da Terens, che ha corso sempre a ridosso delle prime posizioni come anche Zeja (quarta sul traguardo).
Rientro vittorioso anche per Zampa di Velluto nella prova di chisuura, Premio Talassa, un handicap sui 1700 metri di pista media per sole femmine di 3 anni e oltre: con Luca Maniezzi in sella, la cavalla allenata da Marco Gasparini ha usufruito del buon ritmo imposto in avanti da Maeva di Breme per piazzare il suo allungo ai 300 finali e imporsi chiaramente sulle rivali. Bernardina ne ha seguito le mosse nella progressione e in zona traguardo è emersa al secondo posto su Terens e Pizzo Carbonara. (fonte : ippodromimilano.it)
