Europe
Rosallion hands Blue Point first Group 1 winner
The hugely exciting Darley shuttler Blue Point (Ire) sired his first Group 1 winner courtesy of Rosallion (Ire) in Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Paris Longchamp.
The Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned Rosallion was ridden by Sean Levey to an explosive victory over Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), while Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) finished third.
“He felt exceptional today,” Levey said of the live 2000 Guineas contender who was providing his first-crop sire sensation with his first Group 1 winner and setting a new track record into the bargain. “At Doncaster, when I asked him he didn't know what to do on that soft ground and he's still so babyish. He has a great mind though and he'll keep learning. He had to overcome a lot today from that draw and was a bit confused when I restrained him, especially in the false straight. I was always going to win today. He had his ground and that's how good he is.”
“We'll look forward to the Guineas now for next year,” Hannon added. “I wouldn't rule out the Breeders' Cup, but I'm very happy to look forward to the Guineas. I haven't had much luck at the Breeders' Cup, obviously it's got to change at some stage but I think it's unlikely.”
Blue Point is currently serving for $44,000 (inc GST) at Darley, Australia.
Opera Singer dominates Marcel Boussac
It was a visually eye-catching performance by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Opera Singer (USA) (Justify {USA}) in Sunday’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Paris Longchamp. It was a case of the further they went, the faster she went for Ryan Moore aboard the filly as she streaked away from Rose Bloom (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}).
“She's a big filly, genuine and strong and long-striding with loads of class,” Aidan O'Brien said of the 17-10 favourite. “She got a brilliant ride. She has the option of going to the Breeders' Cup, but we'll talk to Ryan and speak with the lads.”
“Ryan said she was very straightforward,” O'Brien added of Justify's (USA) first European Group 1 winner. “I thought she was very strong all the way to the line and it was an impressive performance. She's by Justify and they get better with age. As she steps up in trip she's something to look forward to next year.
“She's obviously a filly that would have no problem starting off at a mile in a Classic and you would imagine she would have no problem going up to a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. Ryan was raving about her coming in–he said I look forward to this day next year!”
No stopping Cracksman’s Ace Impact in the Arc
Bringing the house down at Paris Longchamp in the panama hat G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, Gousserie Racing and Ecuries Serge Stempniak's brilliant Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) ripped up the rule book in scintillating style to become the first colt to win the revised 10.5f G1 Prix du Jockey Club and this prize in the same season.
“C'est enorme,” uttered an emotional Jean-Claude Rouget after watching his unbeaten star rattle home past most of his rivals under a supremely confident Cristian Demuro in the home straight and dominate the final furlong. Running into the placings was Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who held on by a short head from Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to make Cracksman's (GB) sire Frankel (GB) the King of the Arc as he was 12 months ago.
Here was a genuine throwback Arc winner, a proper one who was also remarkably the first French-trained 3-year-old colt to win since Rail Link (GB) in 2006.
“We always say they are the best when they win, but I think what sets him apart is his strong acceleration. It is something I have never seen,” his trainer said. “He's an extraordinary horse, a crack. He's left us speechless. He had a very clean race and his stride-devouring action did the rest. The big winner today is a man that dares, Kamel Chehboub, who bought half of Ace Impact even though he doesn't have a Classic pedigree, as well as Horizon Dore so he now has the two best 3-year-old colts in France! I don't know if he will go straight to the stud or run next year. It will be decided between the two owners and me, but I don't know yet.”
Masterfully prepared by Rouget, who avoided the temptation to go the Almanzor (Fr) route via the Irish Champion and who instead fed the flame with more straightforward task-setting in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, Ace Impact has endured a steep climb to the summit having only begun his career at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January while these rivals were in steady winter work.
Star girls back on the board
Sunday at Paris Longchamp was full of thrills from the first to the last event on the card. Adding more lustre to the program was the return to the winner's circle of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
The Christopher Head-trained Blue Rose Cen had failed to fire in two starts but found her best to secure her fourth elite-level triumph in the G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines.
“This filly is incredible,” beamed Head. “The season has been long and difficult for her, but she has always responded well. I am delighted to have the chance to train her and this win really means something to me. She has known combats like this and to see her shine again at this level is incredible. Aurelien Lemaitre succeeded in moving her to the outside because it can be a little treacherous on the rail. It was a beautiful ride and a beautiful race. We ran her in the Prix Vermeille in order to see her ability at the extended distance. We now know what her limit is and we have her in a good position for us to make a plan for next year. Her last two outings did not worry me and we have seen her tested at Goodwood and over 2400 metres. Her owner loves a challenge and we will discuss the next step, but she could be entered for the Breeders' Cup.”
One race later the flying Highfield Princess also chalked up her fourth Group 1 in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines.
“She won that through pure guts,” jockey Jason Hart said of John Quinn-trained 6-year-old. “She was flat out the whole way–the ground is a bit quick, but she has the heart of a lion. It was only in the last 50 yards when the leader tied up that I knew we were going to win. I knew she was back to herself when I worked her a week ago and credit to connections for keeping her in training, as she's got another Group 1. What a mare, she's so tough.”
Kelina caps red-letter day for Frankel
Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) put the cherry on the cake for her sire who both directly and indirectly dominated the Arc.
The G2 Prix de Sandringham victress was always travelling strongly for Maxime Guyon to defeat Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret.
“Last time she came here she didn't run well and we didn't really have an explanation, but the soft ground was obviously not in her favour,” trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias said. “She didn't have a very good draw in the Moulin and we were going to wait with her, but she just didn't run her race and that allowed her to come here today fresh. We had been invited to go to Keeneland for the Queen Elizabeth II and accepted, but then we made the decision to come here so we are pleased we made the right choice.”
Asia
Sodashi sis spectacular in Sprinters
From an aesthetic perspective, the only similarity between Sodashi (Jpn), the world's most recognisable and talented white galloper, and her year-younger full sister Mama Cocha (Jpn) (Kurofune {USA}) is the latter's broad blaze, but they now have something else in common, namely Group 1 winner, after Mama Cocha dove across the line to narrowly beat Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Sunday's Sprinters S. at Nakayama Racecourse. Favoured Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) was a further length back in third.
“This filly is a completely different type of horse compared to her famous sister, but she has good potential in her own right to become a good sprinter,” said winning jockey Yuga Kawada. “While still winless in Grade-level races coming into this, I felt she had a good chance.”
Stoltz takes National Day Cup
The Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Stoltz (More Than Ready {USA}) claimed Sunday’s G3 The National Day Cup on Sunday at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.
Zac Purton rode the 6-year-old gelding to a 0.30l winner from Adios (Snitzel).
Stoltz was a $200,000 purchase by Pamsel Investments and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
United States of America
Cody's Wish unwraps Breeders' Cup ticket in Vosburgh
The legend of Cody's Wish (USA) (Curlin {USA}), dampened only briefly by a 10l defeat in the two-turn G1 Whitney S., is back at full flame with a gutsy effort in the rescheduled 'Win and You're In' G2 Vosburgh S.
Winning trainer Bill Mott indicated a title defence for his stable's star in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders's Cup Dirt mile was preferred.
“Gate issues go with Cody's Wish,” acknowledged Mott. “You always wonder with the slow start. He was off slow, but he was able to make it up. Ideally, there's more pace and they kind of come back to him, but everybody kept running today.”
When asked about potential 2024 plans for their star, Godolphin noted his career may be coming to a close.
“We'll probably retire him,” admitted Michael Banahan, director for bloodstock for Godolphin. “We got another year out of him which is great. The major goal was trying to win the Met Mile, which we achieved. Everything else was just a bonus to top it off. In this situation, we'll try to be a repeat winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. We're hoping he can do that again, he's obviously one of the best horses in the country and we'd like to maintain that position if we can.”
Adare Manor cruises to fifth straight win in Zenyatta
To see Adare Manor (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) gallop out after Santa Anita's G2 Zenyatta S. was to see a filly who looked like she was pretty proud of herself. Indeed, she should have been. The Zenyatta was Adare Manor's fifth straight win, as well as fourth consecutive Graded win.
“Today all the credit goes to my filly, to Bob Baffert and his team. They brought her ready,” said jockey Juan J. Hernandez. “She broke a little slowly the last couple of times, but today she broke on her own, I didn't even have to push her. She was just galloping around on the lead and I didn't do much today.”
