Waldgeist | Scoop Dyga

By Tom Frary

Those in the epicentre at ParisLongchamp held their collective breath, but ultimately there was no momentous third G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) on Sunday as TDN Rising Star Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) charged late to finally bring her winning sequence to an end. Frankie Dettori had sent Juddmonte’s brilliant mare into what appeared to be a decisive advantage passing the two-furlong pole, but although she got closest to this particular landmark achievement than any other it was not to be as Pierre-Charles Boudot conjured something special from Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park Stud’s warrior. Wide apart as they sought the line, it was not until the final 50 metres that it was clear that the 13-1 shot had her measure and such was his momentum he ended the race 1 3/4 lengths to the good. The G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Ire}) was the same margin back in third, a half length ahead of Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) as the cream rose to the top.

“He was very impressive–he was eating up the ground at the finish,” Andre Fabre commented after greeting a remarkable eighth Arc winner. “I got very confident after Ascot, as although he was well beaten he was really finishing with a good action. After the King George, Pierre-Charles said ‘he is going to win the Arc’ and he was right. I was very concerned about the conditions, as he had moved so well on good ground in the Ganay, but he had won on the deepest ground at two so he does handle it.” John Gosden’s immediate reaction was a magnanimous one. “She’s run a great race but has got outstayed on the ground,” he said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with her and the winner is a fine horse trained by Andre and owned by a good friend of mine. We would have preferred quicker ground.”

Waldgeist’s journey to Arc glory has been a long and winding one, with some ups and downs along the way but it was not until this season that he looked like the finished article. At two, he had served notice that he was out of the top drawer when holding off a British, Irish and German seige on the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud run in desperate conditions. Behind him on that occasion were future Melbourne Cup, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, St Leger and Caulfield Cup winners. His Classic year saw him denied by a short-head by Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club but also beaten by the solid but unremarkable older horse Danehill Kodiac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in Ascot’s G3 Cumberland Lodge S., so it was clear that his talent was not yet being consistently brought to bear.

It was only during the following summer that the chestnut began to find some consistency, winning the G3 Prix d’Hedouville over this course and distance, the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G2 Prix Foy and he was coming on at the finish when under two-lengths fourth behind Enable in this. Soundly-beaten in fifth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf and closer but still in the same position in the G1 Hong Kong Vase, he returned to France enhanced by the travelling and reappeared with a dynamic 4 1/2-length success in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Ganay at this track Apr. 28. Sent to Ascot twice, he was staying on in trying ground when third in the June 19 G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at the Royal meeting and in the King George and had enjoyed a slick trial when winning the Foy again Sept. 15.

In the run, Walgeist was niggled at in stages racing slightly worse than mid-division as Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) put pressure on Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to ensure no repeat of his dominant G1 Grosser Preis von Baden display. Frankie moved Enable up to fourth out wide and the runners followed the established status quo into the “false straight”. Magical was committed at the top of the home run, but Enable was immediately there to press her as she has done so many times before and as the main protagonists headed to two out the outsiders were left behind.

Enable was asked to draw the sting from the smooth-travelling 3-year-old colts Sottsass and Japan with two furlongs left in her quest and she gave her customary generous reply, but Boudot had only just begun to wind up Waldgeist and she was never able to put enough distance between them to ensure the victory. It was still tangible inside the final 150 metres, but the Fabre runner was only getting stronger as the yards accumulated and Dettori could only observe as his rival powered by approaching the line.

Fabre paid respects to the runner-up as he reflected on the winner. “I’ve immense admiration and respect for Enable, but am also very proud of Waldgeist,” he said. “He has continued to strengthen up and has become more mature. He is a calm horse and straightforward to train. The Arc is one of the world’s great races and the win is just reward for the efforts undertaken by the Dietrich Von Boetticher-Andreas Jacobs partnership. It will be them who will decide the next step, as the horse could be retired to stud.”

Von Boetticher had bred an Arc winner before, but the 2005 hero Hurricane Run (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) was sporting the Michael Tabor silks and so this result was a profound moment in his illustrious career. “Winning the Arc is an incredible feeling and it represents a lifetime’s work, but in general terms, you don’t tend to succeed,” he commented. “It’s taken some time to bring to fruition. Harping back to the past, we bred Hurricane Run and were placed with Borgia. In order to win these types of races, you need at times to know how to work in partnership, which is something we embarked upon with Andreas Jacobs. I hadn’t expected to beat Enable or bargained for the way the horse picked up in the straight.”

Retirement beckons for Waldgeist, but whether it is immediate is open to debate according to the owner of Gestut Ammerland. “I don’t wish to make a decision before consulting with Andre Fabre first,” Von Boetticher added. “We will do what is right by the horse. They aren’t machines, but living creatures.” Andreas Jacobs was also ecstatic at the result and said, “It’s a feeling comparable to the day I got married! When it comes to breeding horses, you don’t always need to follow the latest trends. At our stud, we prize those renowned and stamina-endowed German lines. We used that criteria when it came to standing our stallion Nathaniel.”

Pierre-Charles Boudot was to go on to a third group 1 victory in the Prix de la Foret later in the afternoon, which brought his total of wins over the two-day meeting to six, with five at pattern level. He summed up the feeling afterwards. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m over the moon. To win the Arc is just a wonderful feeling,” he commented. “Waldgeist is a horse of a lifetime as far as I’m concerned and I’m happy to say that it rang true today, as he showed tremendous heart. We had a lot of respect for Enable, but today she was simply beaten by a better horse on the day. It’s all a little crazy right now and I can die happy. You need a crack performer to win the Arc.”

“I was struggling to lie up with the pace on account of the very strong tempo and the ground was very sticky,” Boudot added. “My horse was crying out for a patient ride, so I let him do his own thing in the false straight, which enabled him to recharge his batteries. We made our effort on the outside of the pack and on hitting the straight, there was a wall of four horses fighting it out in front and my horse subsequently picked up.”

None of Enable’s connections would be drawn into future plans for Enable and Teddy Grimthorpe was keen to remain positive from a position that has become alien to them where this particular performer is concerned. “She has run a great race and we are all very proud of her,” he said. “The ground was too holding for her, but she ran a blinder and we couldn’t have asked any more of her. Enable has become a real icon. She is held in deep affection by many people and the public at large. The Prince will decide her future and at this moment in time, we are counting our blessings that a mare of such quality has come into our lives. The expectation levels coming into the race were simply huge and it’s great that so much positive energy has accompanied her on this particular journey. It is very emotional for us all and she has made us proud. We don’t love her any less for that defeat.”

Sottsass beat Japan in the private battle of the Classic generation in a strong Arc and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget was happy with the outcome. “We are delighted and the four leading fancies have filled the first four places, so the logic has been respected,” he said. “It was a true-run race. I had feared that Ghaiyyath might sail into a big lead, but that wasn’t the case. Every horse in the race was there with a chance and it was a very good race. The rumour mill beforehand suggested that Waldgeist wouldn’t act on a heavy track, but it proved to be his summer! He’s a seasoned performer and his preparation was geared towards this race. Enable also ran her race, as did Sottsass. Cristian Demuro gave him a perfect ride and the colt courageously held onto third. He deserves a good break during the winter and it’s on the cards that he will stay in training next year. So expect to see him contest the 2020 edition of the Arc!” Peter Brant’s representative Michel Zerolo added, “He’s run a great race and proved that he is the best 3-year-old in Europe. Whether he runs again this year or not, we’ll have to see but the Breeders’ Cup is a possibility.”

Aidan O’Brien was also satisfied with the effort of Japan and Magical, with the latter fading out of contention to be six lengths behind her stablemate in fifth. “They both ran very well,” he commented. “This ground may have been on the soft side, but it was the same for the other contenders. It’s possible that these two horses will race again this season.”

Waldgeist is the first foal out of the G3 Prix Penelope heroine Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), who was likewise a TDN Rising Star and who also produced last year’s G2 Prix de Malleret winner Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). A half-sister to the G1 St Leger hero Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and the dam of this year’s Listed Pat Eddery S. scorer Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), she is out of Waldmark (Ger) (Mark of Esteem {GB}) who raced in the Newsells Park Stud colours and was runner-up in the G2 Falmouth S. She in turn is a daughter of the four-times group-winning German champion and runaway G2 Deutsches St Leger heroine Wurftaube (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) whose other progeny includes the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Waldpark (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G2 Diana Trial runner-up Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory) who is herself the dam of this year’s Listed Prix du Pont Neuf winner Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}).

Waldmark’s full-sister Waldbeere (GB) is the dam of the six-times group-winning sire Wiesenpfad (Fr) (Waky Nao {GB}), this year’s G3 Hackwood S. hero Waldpfad (Ger) (Shamardal)–who was disappointingly last of 12 in the Foret later on this card–and the listed scorer Waldtraut (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who was also third in the G1 Preis der Diana. Waldlerche’s 3-year-old gelding Waldstern (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is a useful handicapper for the John Gosden stable, while she also has an unraced 2-year-old colt by Kingman (GB) named Waldkonig (GB) and a yearling full-sister to Waldgeist.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE-G1, €5,000,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-6, 3yo/up, c/f, 12fT, 2:31.97, vsf.
1–WALDGEIST (GB), 131, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Waldlerche (GB) (GSW-Fr & SP-Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Waldmark (Ger), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Wurftaube (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
O-Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park Stud; B-Waldlerche Partnership (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €2,857,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 21-8-3-3, €4,846,576. *1/2 to Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $123,344. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Enable (GB), 128, m, 5, Nathaniel (Ire)–Concentric (GB), by Sadler’s Wells. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. €1,143,000.
3–Sottsass (Fr), 125, c, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Starlet’s Sister (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€340,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-White Birch Farm; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €571,500.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 13.10, 0.50, 6.60.
Also Ran: Japan (GB), Magical (Ire), Soft Light (Fr), Kiseki (Jpn), Nagano Gold (GB), French King (GB), Ghaiyyath (Ire), Blast Onepiece (Jpn), Fierement (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Le Havre’s Villa Marina Prevails in Opera Battle

 

Villa Marina holds off the late charge of Fleeting | Scoop Dyga

By Tom Frary

There was joy for the French throughout the Arc card, with the 20-1 shot Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) ensuring that the home nation prevailed in half of the group 1s on offer when taking the Prix de l’Opera Longines. Enjoying the invaluable assistance of the ParisLongchamp master Olivier Peslier, the homebred of Dario Hinojosa’s SARL Darpat France who had been fourth last time trying 12 furlongs in the G1 Prix Vermeille here Sept. 15 was keen initially before bowing to restraint in mid-division. What she did have that some of her chief rivals were denied was a clear run in the straight and, after grabbing the lead a furlong from home, held on as Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) closed to within a short neck. Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) also lunged late, but was 3/4 of a length behind in third.

“She ran a very good race in the Vermeille, where everyone could see that the trip was too far,” trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias said of the bay who had burst onto the scene with success in the G3 Prix de Psyche. “She won in good style today and is a very brave filly who hasn’t stopped improving. She will definitely not stay in training next year, as the owner is a breeder but if all is well in the next few days there is a very good possibility that she will go for the [Nov. 2 GI] Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.”

Villa Marina had taken five starts to get off the mark, but managed it over this course and distance July 11 when partnered by the apprentice Thomas Trullier. Her next outing was Deauville’s July 27 Prix de Psyche also over this trip and she showed how much she had progressed by comprehensively beating the subsequent Jockey Club Oaks Invitational winner Edisa (Kitten’s Joy). Forced into a wide trip throughout as the free-running Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) raced herself into the ground in the hands of a heartbroken post-Arc Frankie Dettori up front, she was able to overhaul another John Gosden runner in the G2 Prix de la Nonette winner Terebellum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) a furlong out. The G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Fleeting and the G1 Coronation S. heroine Watch Me came from behind with stirring efforts, with the latter having to navigate through the crowd in the process, but Villa Marina had already gone just out of reach. There was a hammer blow for Coolmore, as the impeccably-bred Goddess (Camelot {GB}) tragically broke down in the straight and had to be euthanized.

Aidan O’Brien said of Fleeting, “The filly was in great form and finished quickly once again. She’s very consistent. There are several options for her, so we’ll see a bit later.” Francis-Henri Graffard was left wondering what might have been had Pierre-Charles Boudot had a clear shot at the prize. “Obviously I am a little disappointed,” he commented. “She was held up at the rear and burst through in the straight, but the draw didn’t help. I think her owner is considering sending her to stud, but I don’t know the final decision as yet. She liked the ground. The race was very difficult, because one of the runners blocked her in.”

Villa Marina is out of the stakes winner and GIII The Very One H. and GIII Gallorette H. runner-up Briviesca (GB) (Peintre Celebre), who was a snip at 10,000gns when bought by Laffon-Parias as a yearling at Tattersalls. Having also produced the Listed Prix Petite Etoile third Aguafria (More Than Ready), she hails from the family of the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko). This is the dam line of the influential broodmare Special (Forli {Arg}), a full-sister to the G1 July Cup hero and leading sire Thatch and the dam of the champion sire Nureyev as well as the granddam of the Sadler’s Wells. Briviesca’s unraced 2-year-old colt is by Archipenko, while she also has a yearling filly by Myboycharlie (Ire) and a filly foal by Reliable Man (GB).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L’OPERA LONGINES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:09.09, vsf.
1–VILLA MARINA (GB), 123, f, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Briviesca (GB) (MSW & MGSP-US, SW-Fr, $253,555), by Peintre Celebre
2nd Dam: Kimono (Ire), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Kiliniski (Ire), by Nibiski
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-SARL Darpat France (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Olivier Peslier. €285,700. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-2, €392,570. *1/2 to Aguafria (More Than Ready), SP-Fr & US, $115,372. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fleeting (Ire), 123, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Azafata (Spa), by Motivator (GB). (€50,000 Wlg ’16 ARQDEC; €100,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Fernando Bermudez (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €114,300.
3–Watch Me (Fr), 123, f, 3, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Watchful (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€30,000 RNA Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Alexander Tamagni & Mme Regula Vannod; B-Mme Antoinette Tamagni-Bodmer & Cocheese Bloodstock Anstalt (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €57,150.
Margins: SNK, 3/4, NK. Odds: 19.90, 19.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Commes (Fr), Terebellum (Ire), With You (GB), Ligne d’Or (GB), Pink Dogwood (Ire), Etoile (Fr), Mehdaayih (GB), Cartiem (Fr). DNF: Goddess. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Dream Ahead’s Glass Slippers Dominates the Abbaye

6th at LCP, Gr. Stk, €350,000

G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines

(5f)

Winner: Glass Slippers (GB), f, 3 by Dream Ahead

 

 

Glass Slippers | Scoop Dyga

By Tom Frary

As far as clear-cut winners on the Arc card went, it was the surprise package Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) who won the award as she cut a magisterial figure in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp. With the 9-10 favourite and sprint division deity Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) drastically failing to fire in the testing ground, this speed test turned into a question of who wanted it the most and it was the Shadwell luminary’s compatriot who had the hunger. Where she was outpaced in the early stages of her latest and second success from two prior runs in France in the course-and-distance G3 Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert, Bearstone Stud’s 3-year-old was in front before the first two furlongs of this test. Enthusiastically making the rest of the running under Tom Eaves, she had a commanding three-length advantage over So Perfect (Scat Daddy) at the line, with El Astronaute (Ire) (Approve {Ire}) denied second by a head. The stud’s owner Terry Holdcroft was on hand to lead in the latest British winner of this prize and said, “She obviously loves travelling and hasn’t stopped improving since she first came to France. We are breeders, but she will be kept in training next season.”

Since 1979, the Abbaye had gone to Britain on a staggering 30 occasions, with France garnering just four renewals in the 40-year period. Kevin Ryan, who along with Mark Johnston has helped lead the reinvigorating of the training bases in the North of England, had won this with Desert Lord (GB) (Green Desert) in 2006 before fellow Northerner Bryan Smart delivered Tangerine Trees (GB) (Mind Games {GB}) to glory here under Glass Slippers’ rider Tom Eaves five years later. In 2014, the Yorkshire-based handler David O’Meara saddled the ex-Bryan Smart project Move In Time (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}) to provide a shock in this while last year Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) prevailed for the Co. Durham maestro Michael Dods.

What Glass Slippers lacked in credibility measured against the likes of Battaash, Mabs Cross and Ballydoyle’s Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and So Perfect, she more than makes up for in application and a curious desire to race in this country. Following her latest domestic efforts when second in Ayr’s Listed Land O’Burns S. over this five-furlong trip June 22 and fourth in the G3 Summer S. over six at York July 12, she has slipped into a new dimension as the winner of Deauville’s Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud back over six furlongs Aug. 4 and the Sept. 15 Prix du Petit Couvert which is the time-honoured prep for this.

If Battaash had not shown up, and in a way that was the case with the G1 Nunthorpe S. hero looking flat and tired from an early stage, this renewal was up for grabs and open to an improver. Slightly tardy out of the gates before shadowing the rail-running leader El Astronaute and then breezing by, Glass Slippers began to turn the screw after halfway and it was soon evident that she would have to capitulate not to collect. Instead of waving enough, she kept ploughing onward and in a race where few made up any ground she was in a class of her own. Battaash wound up in 14th, Jim Crowley keen to avoid stressing the 5-year-old.

Holdcroft revealed that it was he who had lofty ambitions beforehand. “I think that the more I asked the trainer to enter her in a group one, the more crazy he thought I was, as up until then she hadn’t won a group race,” he said. “We were looking to steal a place, but to win with that much in hand was incredible. The other big surprise was how well she handled the ground, as we always thought she preferred it better. She is a filly that we decided to keep in training, because the mother died and we have had a lot of the line. She is qualified to go to the Breeders’ Cup now, but I don’t think we will go. Kevin Ryan is a marvellous trainer and we are going to keep her in training for next year and have another go at winning the Abbaye!”

Tom Eaves added, “She is not big, but she has a huge heart. I didn’t really have any plan, I just knew she would be able to do it. She was well placed and I just let her bowl along.” Aidan O’Brien was delighted with the effort of the runner-up, who came out of the race with enhanced kudos as the sole contender to make up ground from behind. “So Perfect has ran well against the older horses. She has managed to cope well with the ground,” he said. “She picked up well inside the last furlong and we are very happy with that effort.” John Quinn said of El Astronaute, “We are absolutely thrilled with him there–we always thought he had a run like that in him. We were coming over with a bit of hope, but really we were coming to try our luck. We have learned that the older he is getting, the more he prefers softer ground so all that rain would have helped us a lot.”

Glass Slippers is the last living foal and second black-type winner out of the aforementioned Night Gypsy (GB) (Mind Games {GB}), whose other was Electric Feel (GB) (Firebreak {GB}) who took the Listed Radley S. and was runner-up in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. The ill-fated dam is a full-sister to the Listed Hilary Needler Trophy winner and stakes producer On the Brink (GB) and a half to Eastern Romance (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who also achieved black-type success in France in the Listed Criterium de Vitesse before going on to be runner-up in the G3 Ballyogan S.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L’ABBAYE DE LONGCHAMP LONGINES-G1, €350,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-6, 2yo/up, 5fT, :58.04, vsf.
1–GLASS SLIPPERS (GB), 133, f, 3, by Dream Ahead
1st Dam: Night Gypsy (GB), by Mind Games (GB)
2nd Dam: Ocean Grove (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Leyete Gulf (Ire), by Slip Anchor (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Bearstone Stud Ltd (GB); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Tom Eaves. €199,990. Lifetime Record: SP-Eng, 12-4-1-1, €305,319. *1/2 to Electric Feel (GB) (Firebreak {GB}), SW & GSP-Eng; and Aunt Nicola (GB) (Reel Buddy), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–So Perfect, 133, f, 3, Scat Daddy–Hopeoverexperience, by Songandaprayer. ($400,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Aidan O’Brien. €80,010.
3–El Astronaute (Ire), 137, g, 6, Approve (Ire)–Drumcliffe Dancer (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). (€19,000 Ylg ’14 TISEP; £38,000 2yo ’15 BBASC2; £95,000 RNA 2yo ’15 DONSEP; 58,000gns RNA 2yo ’15 TA15). O-Ross Harmon Racing; B-T Jones (IRE); T-John Quinn. €40,005.
Margins: 3, NK, SHD. Odds: 12.80, 27.00, 84.00.
Also Ran: Invincible Army (Ire), Mabs Cross (GB), Gold Vibe (Ire), Finsbury Square (Ire), Sestilio Jet (Fr), Spinning Memories (Ire), Fairyland (Ire), Shades of Blue (Ire), Jolie (Fr), Recon Mission (Ire), Battaash (Ire), Soldier’s Call (GB), Ken Colt (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Fastnet Rock’s One Master In Foret Repeat

Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 12:41 pm | Back to: Europe, Top News Europe

Updated: October 6, 2019 at 3:50 pm

Previous Story | Next Story

7th at LCP, Gr. Stk, €350,000

G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret

(7f)

Winner: One Master (GB), m, 5 by Fastnet Rock (Aus)

 

One Master gave her connections back-to-back La Forets | Scoop Dyga

By Tom Frary

Pierre-Charles Boudot had been the main man all weekend and he made sure that ParisLongchamp stayed in the palm of his hand to the end by guiding Lael Stable’s One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) to a second consecutive success in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret. While she was 33-1 when overcoming a wide draw last year, the 5-year-old homebred is now rightly respected wherever she goes and was only 17-5 this time. Buried in mid-pack from her more favourable stall six, the bay who was last seen running fifth in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest was expertly placed on the lead a furlong from home and she was never going to surrender it despite the efforts of the 13-5 favourite City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). As they strained sinew in the frantic final metres, the defending champion had that bit extra to prevail by a half length as they drew 3 1/2 lengths away from Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) in third. “I’ve been waiting for soft ground and seven furlongs all year and the ground is a key factor, as she loves it like it is today,” trainer William Haggas said. “The jockey is on fire, which is a great help also and the mare was in top form.”

Having obtained her first pattern-race success in the G3 Fairy Bridge S. over an extended seven-furlong trip at Tipperary last August, One Master swooped late to surprise the crowds in this before running a storming race when beaten just under a length in fifth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. Not disgraced when eighth in the G1 Hong Kong Mile, she returned from a break to be fourth under a penalty in the G2 Lanwades Stud S. over a mile at The Curragh May 25 before filling third spot in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 18. Looking the winner until the last 100 yards of that encounter, she was a neck runner-up to Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) with the run of the race against her in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket Aug. 4 before her late show in the 6 1/2-furlong Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 4.

Subsequently rested as she had been in 2018, she is a fresh mare heading into the autumn where she will try sprinting again before a potential 2020 campaign. “She had a break after the Maurice de Gheest, as there was nothing to run her in,” Haggas added. “I think she’s got a bit quicker this year, so the plan is to go back to six furlongs and hope for similarly testing conditions in the six-furlong race at Ascot [the Oct. 19 G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint]. Then that will be it for the season. Mr and Mrs Jackson are talking about keeping her in training next year and I’d be delighted to have her again.”

One Master, who was becoming the first since fellow Brit Moorestyle (GB) to win two renewals of this race, is a daughter of the G3 Molecomb S. and G3 King George S. winner Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), whose dam Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}) was the breakthrough performer in Europe for the Jacksons in the millennium year. Notably precocious, she captured the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Norfolk S. and was runner-up in the G1 Phoenix S. before filling that same position behind Namid (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) as a 2-year-old in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye on this fixture.

Superstar Leo, who also produced the Listed Fleur de Lys S. winner and G3 Jersey S. runner-up Sentaril (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), is kin to Starship (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who produced this stable’s G1 Racing Post Trophy hero and G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains runner-up Rivet (Ire) and the group winner Out and About (Ire) by One Master’s sire Fastnet Rock. Another of Superstar Leo’s half-siblings, Rocking (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), produced the G3 Ballyogan S. runner-up Boston Rocker (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) who is in turn the dam of San Donato (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who was also third in the Poulains. Yet another New York (Ire) (Danzero {Aus}) threw the G1 Turnbull S. winner December Draw (Ire) (Medecis {GB}), while this is the family of the Classic-winning sires Footstepsinthesand (GB) and Power (GB). Enticing’s unraced 3-year-old colt Prompting (GB) is by Bated Breath (GB) and she has a 2-year-old son of Kodiac (GB) named Craved (GB) and a yearling filly by the same sire to follow.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET-G1, €350,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-6, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:23.66, vsf.
1–ONE MASTER (GB), 125, m, 5, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Enticing (Ire) (MGSW-Eng, $260,363), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Superstar Leo (Ire), by College Chapel (GB)
3rd Dam: Council Rock (GB), by General Assembly
O-Lael Stable; B-Lael Stables (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire & SW & MG1SP-Eng, 15-5-1-3, €669,612. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–City Light (Fr), 128, h, 5, Siyouni (Fr)–Light Saber (Fr), by Kendor (Fr). (€55,000 Ylg ’15 AROCT). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Mme Isabelle Corbani; B-Jedburgh Stud & Mme Isabelle Corbani (FR); T-Stephane Wattel. €80,010.
3–Speak in Colours (GB), 128, c, 4, Excelebration (Ire)–Maglietta Fina (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). (24,000gns RNA Wlg ’15 TATFOA; 22,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TAOCT). O-Mrs Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Scuderia Archi Romani (GB); T-Joseph O’Brien. €40,005.
Margins: HF, 3HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.40, 2.60, 23.00.
Also Ran: Safe Voyage (Ire), Graignes (Fr), Hey Gaman (GB), Forever in Dreams (Ire), Wasmya (Fr), Glorious Journey (GB), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Marianafoot (Fr), Waldpfad (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.