France
Torquator Tasso pulls 72-1 upset in Arc
Heralded as one of the strongest G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes in years, the race nonetheless recorded an upset with a 0.75l victory by German raider Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) at odds of 72-1.
The final 400 metres proved to be one of the most exciting closing stages of the year with multiple horses looking like they had a shot to win. Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) settled for second with race favourite Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) a nose back in third.
“It's very, very difficult to understand I've won this race,” trainer Marcel Weiss told Thoroughbred Daily News. “He has produced some very good performances and is a dual Group 1 winner, and even though I thought this was the strongest Arc of the last few years, we thought he deserved to run.”
Already a two-time Group 1 winner before the race, Torquator Tasso is one of five Group 1 winners for the late Adlerflug (Ger), whose son In Swoop (Ger) finished second in the Arc last year. Torquator Tasso is out of a half-sister to one of Adlerflug’s Group 2 winners Tusked Wings (Ger) and descends from the great Allegretta (GB) (Lombard {Ger}), whose runners include Arc winner Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}) and G1 2000 Guineas winner King’s Best (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}). Those under her name also include dual Australian Group 1 winner Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).
Wootton Bassett filly newest Group 1 winner for sire
The stellar stallion career of Wootton Bassett (GB) continued on Sunday when his juvenile daughter Zellie (Fr) kicked off the Longchamp card with a 1.75l victory in the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, a “Win and You’re In” race for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf.
Not taking the lead until inside the final 100 metres, she was an easy winner under Oisin Murphy with Times Square (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) yielding the lead grudgingly and settling for second.
“She is a nice, uncomplicated filly who has been so consistent,” André Fabre told Thoroughbred Daily News after the race. “She is finished for the season and I don't think she'll go much further than a mile. It'll be either the 1000 Guineas or the Pouliches.”
The fifth Group 1 winner for Wootton Bassett, Zellie is the first Group 1 winner from just six runners out of Nathaniel (Ire) mares. Zellie’s dam Sarai (GB) is a half-sister to three stakes winners. The family also includes Listed Canberra Cup third Aussie Nugget (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who is in training with Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Rougir provides Territories with first Group 1
It’s likely that the Darley nominations teams in both hemispheres were on the edge of their seats during the G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines on Sunday when Territories' (Ire) daughter Rougir (Fr) gave her sire his first Group 1 winner and earned her spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Maker’s Mark Filly and Mare Turf.
The 3-year-old filly made her backers wait until the bitter end when she didn’t get the lead until the final stride to win over Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) by a nose. Eudaimonia (Fr) (Vision D’Etat {Fr}) watched the show from 1.25l back in third.
“It's my first Group 1 win, it's a moment I'll cherish forever and I'll certainly celebrate it,” winning trainer Cedric Rossi told Thoroughbred Daily News. “She has been unlucky in some of her races, but she has never disappointed us in any way and today was the right day to win.”
Territories is now the sixth son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) to sire a Group 1 winner, with I Am Invincible siring the most Group 1 winners of any of the sons. Shuttling to Australia every season since 2017, Territories covered his biggest Australian book of mares in 2020 with 148. Rougir’s stakes-placed dam Summer Moon (Fr) is by a stallion familiar to Australasian breeders in Elusive City (USA), that stallion shuttling to New Zealand from 2004 to 2010.
Hveger grandson wins Jean-Luc Lagardere
Australian-bred Hveger (Danehill {USA}) saw yet another Group 1 winner added to her name on Sunday when grandson Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) won the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. The victory guaranteed him a spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at the same meeting that saw Hveger's son Highland Reel (Ire) win the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2016.
Taking the lead in the closing 100 metres, Angel Bleu denied Godolphin’s Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) by 0.75l with the top four finishers all within 1.75l of each other at the line.
“The Breeders' Cup is a possibility, but there's not much soft ground in Del Mar,” trainer Ralph Beckett told Thoroughbred Daily News of potential future targets. “It was soft at Newmarket on Saturday, he's still in the Dewhurst and I wouldn't rule that out. He's backed up quickly before and when they're in good form and the ball's at your feet it's always a good idea to kick it.”
Angel Bleu is out of a placed full sister to Swettenham Stud shuttler Highland Reel and G1 Caulfield Cup winner Cape Of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Before Group 1-placed Hveger was exported to Ireland in 2009, she produced multiple Group 1-placed Valdemoro (Encosta De Lago). That mare has a yearling filly named Diplomacy (Exceed And Excel) and went to Too Darn Hot (GB) last season. A great-grandson of G1 Australian Oaks winner Circles of Gold (Marscay), Angel Bleu also sees Hveger’s champion full brother Elvstroem and multiple Group 1 winner Haradasun as top level performers on his page.
A Case Of You holds on in Abbaye
The celebration of the day at Longchamp likely belongs to trainer Adrian McGuinness, who recorded his first Group 1 victory when A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) won the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp and earned a berth to next month’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Another close finish on the card, A Case Of You had to wait out a lengthy photo when he just napped Air de Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) on the line by a nose. Former Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp winner Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead {USA}) was a well-beaten third 5l back.
“He'll be better on better ground and we'll definitely look at the Breeders' Cup,” McGuinness told Thoroughbred Daily News. “It's either that or we put him away and look at Dubai in the spring. He's definitely going to travel.”
The first Group 1 winner for Hot Streak (Ire), A Case Of You is the best in his family for more than five generations as the only Group 1 winner under his first four dams. The colt gave long-time shuttler Iffraaj (GB) two winners on the card as grandsire via sire sons Hot Streak and Wootton Bassett.
Space Blues flies in la Foret
Consistent stakes performer Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) recorded a race to remember Sunday with an easy win in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret over 1400 metres. After the race, connections said he is likely to run his career finale in the G1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile next month.
Jockey William Buick again hailed Space Blues as one of his favourite mounts. Buick has been on the entire in all but two of his 11 starts since August 2019, including in both his Group 1 victories – both coming in France.
“He's just a machine and one of my favourite horses,” Buick told Thoroughbred Daily News. “He's generous, easy to ride and has a lot of class. With him, you just have to sit back and wait for him to deliver his finishing kick.”
A Godolphin-homebred, Space Blues' dam has produced both Grade 3 winner Antoinette (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) and Grade 3-placed Javanica (USA) (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}).
United States
Echo Zulu continues domination in Frizette
The best 2-year-old filly in North America, Echo Zulu (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) romped in Sunday’s Frizette S. to ace her final G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf preparation.
Securing her second Grade 1 victory, Echo Zulu saw Gerrymander (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) finish second 7.25l behind, 3l ahead of third-placed A Mo Reay (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}).
“It’s amazing. She’s a special filly and she’s by Gun Runner. How much better can it get? She’s better than good,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who also trained Gun Runner (USA).
One of two Grade 1 winners for first-crop sire Gun Runner, Echo Zulu is one of two Grade 1 winners for her dam Letgomyecho (USA) (Menifee {USA}) as well. That mare’s five stakes performers also include Grade 1 winner Echo Town (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and Grade 3 winner J Boys Echo (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}). Gun Runner leads all North American sires by 2-year-old earnings and number of Grade 1 winners and performers in 2021.
Private Mission gives Baffert fourth Zenyatta victory
Bob Baffert’s Breeders’ Cup hand got even stronger on Sunday when Private Mission (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) rolled to an easy 2.25l G2 Zenyatta S. victory to earn a spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Always prominent, the 3-year-old was much too good for second-placed stablemate As Time Goes By (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) with Miss Bigly (USA) (Gemologist {USA}) the only other horse within 11l of the winner.
“I’m glad I stayed home with her,” Baffert said. “I decided this would be best for her with the Breeders’ Cup in mind, we didn’t want to stress her. She’s on the improve, getting better and better. I’m really happy with the way both fillies ran.”
Into Mischief is the gift that keeps on giving to North American owners with his own Breeders’ Cup hand led by the Baffert-trained Gamine (USA). While having the Spendthrift stallion as her sire doesn’t hurt, Private Mission comes by her talent from the female side as well. She is one of three stakes performers out of the stakes-winning Private Gift (USA) (Unbridled {USA}), who is also the grandam of Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road (USA) (Quality Road {USA}).
Private Gift is a half-sister to G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Status (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}) with the pair two of four stakes performers out of stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Private Status (USA) (Alydar {USA})
Annapolis stays undefeated in Pilgrim
Annapolis (USA) (War Front {USA}) rewarded his connections’ decision to put him in stakes competition in only his second start on Sunday with a win in the G2 Pilgrim S. at Belmont.
The small field saw Annapolis and Portfolio Company (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) run 1-2 all the way around the track with a duel taking place in the stretch. Portfolio Company gave in late to give Annapolis the victory by a head with the third placed Limited Liability (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) 5l back in third.
“He fought the whole way to the wire,” said jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. “That was a nice race. The way he did it last time he looked like a nice horse, so we expected him to move forward and he did.”
The victory followed up War Front (USA) also having a Group 1-placed runner in France earlier in the day. Annapolis is the second stakes performer for Grade 2 winner My Miss Sophia (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) from two to race. That mare comes from the famed Glennwood Farm breeding program and is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Materiality (USA) (Afleet Alex {USA}) out of stakes winner and successful broodmare Wildwood Flower (USA) (Langfuhr {USA}).
American Pharoah colt dominates Zuma Beach
American Pharoah’s (USA) impressive juvenile son Mackinnon (USA) continued his California turf domination with his third-straight victory and second-straight stakes in the Zuma Beach S. at Santa Anita. Trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed after the race that if he comes out of the race well, he’s headed to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
“He’s improved a lot because the last couple of times I rode him, I had to work a little hard in the stretch with him, today I asked him a little and after that he just took off again,” jockey Juan Hernandez said.
Mackinnon is one of seven juvenile stakes winners and 17 2-year-old stakes performers for the Coolmore Australia shuttler American Pharoah, with the group led by Group 1 winner Van Gogh (USA). Mackinnon is the second runner out of the Grade 3-placed Scat Daddy (USA) mare Scat Means Go (USA).
