Katie Midwinter (02/10/23)
ParisLongchamp: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The feature race on the card at Longchamp was undoubtedly Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. One of the most prestigious races in the world, won by countless superstars in the past, it was the turn of unbeaten son of Cracksman Ace Impact, the Prix du Jockey Club victor, to claim the coveted trophy.
The three-year-old champion showed remarkable speed and an electric turn of foot to sprint away from his rivals, that included multiple Group One winners and competitors, putting in an exceptional performance on his first attempt at the 1m4f distance. Held up at the back of the field, Cristian Demuro adopted a patient approach aboard his mount, travelling smoothly before making his move around the pack and unleashing his ace card. The impact was instant, and the race swiftly put to bed with none of his rivals able to get close enough to land a blow.
Confidence in the colt was high prior to the race, and it was justified as the manner of his victory was breathtaking. It is a first victory in the race for his sire Cracksman, a fine achievement with his first crop that will ensure his current stud fee of £17,500 will increase. It was trainer Jean-Claude Rouget’s second success in the contest following Sottsass’ victory in 2020, but all the more enjoyable with the addition of the atmospheric crowd this time around in the French capital city that was basking in the autumn sun.
Westover put in his usual brave performance to finish second for Ralph Beckett, under Rob Hornby. He was driven out of the stalls to gain a prominent position and tracked leader Mr Hollywood alongside Hukum, staying on strongly in the closing stages but unable to show the speed required to match the eventual winner. Despite having two Group One wins to his name, Westover has been unfortunate not to win more top level prizes, placing in many of the most prestigious races. A domestic Group One will surely be targeted and few would begrudge him winning a top race in Britain next season.
Big-priced Onesto bounced back to form in tremendous fashion following a string of disappointing efforts. Seventh of eight in the Irish Champions Stakes in his prior run, he was overpriced on his best form but not on current form, however he proved that it is sometimes worth sticking with a horse when they are not performing to the best of their ability.
Of the other contenders, Through Seven Seas and Continuous, respectively, both made good headway from the back of the field to finish strongly. The former, a Japanese-raider who had previously finished a narrow second to Equinox, encountered traffic when mounting her challenge, and may have finished closer with an easier route.
Aidan O’Brien-trained Continuous had the perfect draw from stall 7 but was unable to capitalise on his early position, and was shuffled to the back of the field. The son of Heart’s Cry was also met with traffic problems in the straight, unable to gain on the leaders as the race was developing, before flying home to finish fifth. It was an exceptional effort by the three-year-old colt who had reigned victorious in the St Leger only two weeks prior. He was attempting to become the first horse to win the world’s oldest Classic and the Arc in the same season, a feat not even Nijinsky could achieve, and he put in a gallant effort and would likely have finished closer if not for his unfortunate position turning for home.
The rest of the card featured a number of impressive performances from the likes of Rosallion and Blue Rose Cen, respectively, both bouncing back to form following defeats, and stunning Justify filly Opera Singer, who strode to an emphatic victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac.
John Quinn’s Highfield Princess finally returned to the winner’s enclosure following a luckless run of form in what was a heart-warming victory, with George Boughey’s Perdika and Ballydoyle’s Aesop’s Fables outrunning their massive odds in second and third respectively. Kinross was unable to claim victory in the Prix de la Foret, falling foul to the race winning tactics of Maxime Guyon, as Frankie Dettori attempted to take his mount through a gap that was quickly closed. It was Dettori’s final ride at ParisLongchamp, but to his misfortune it ended with an appeal rather than a flying dismount, as Kelina was announced the winner.
NEWMARKET: Cambridgeshire Meeting
FRIDAY
Coppice was an impressive winner of the opening race on Friday‘s card, the Listed Rosemary Stakes, prevailing over a rallying Potapova and Irish-raider Tarawa. The John and Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old had disappointed under Kieran Shoemark when last but one in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown in early September, struggling to find space in the closing stages and unable to mount a challenge, with the jockey reporting his saddle had slipped during the race.
The daughter of Kingman had previously finished fifth behind Nashwa in the Falmouth Stakes, taking on older fillies for the first time in a race that wasn’t run to suit. Now reunited with Frankie Dettori, Coppice pounced late on to claim the prize at Newmarket, returning to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since her Sandringham Stakes success at Royal Ascot. This was her final race in the UK as she will now embark on a journey across the pond to continue her racing career in the USA.
With four talented fillies finishing within a length of the eventual winner, it was a competitive and hard fought race from which many positives can be taken from the beaten horses. Queen For You, eventual fourth, was the last to be asked for an effort by her jockey Robert Havlin, travelling the strongest of all with two furlongs to run. She was unable to find as much off the bridle as her stablemate, and having been narrowly beaten on three occasions since her debut victory she appears vulnerable to a more hardy rival.
The ground may have been quick enough for fifth-placed Amenyah, who may be worth siding with when next running on slightly easier ground. She has made three appearances this term following a lengthy layoff, showing promise with a sign of better things to come, and a second career success may not be too far away.
Sixth-placed Silver Lady was well beaten by the leading pack, but stayed on at the same speed towards the finish without losing any additional ground to those ahead of her. The market had spoken in her favour as she was sent off as 5/2 favourite for an in-form Charlie Appleby yard, but she was unable to match her rivals for speed as the race developed and shaped as though a step up in trip could be a wise move. Being by Sea The Stars out of Shamardal mare Lumiere, she should possess the stamina required to be effective over a mile-and-a-quarter, and could be worth keeping on side in future.
The race was sadly marred by a fatal injury to Crystal Caprice. A beautifully bred filly by Frankel out of Listed-winning daughter of Dubawi, Crystal Zvezda, Listed-placed Crystal Caprice perhaps hadn’t been able to show her true potential yet but had earned herself a career-high rating of 101 and had recorded three career wins.
The first Group race on the card, the Group Three Dubai Stakes, was won in emphatic fashion by a talented Frankel filly, Time Lock. A Listed winner at Craon when last seen, the Harry and Roger Charlton-trained four-year-old quickly asserted her dominance in the closing stages, cantering past her rivals and swiftly putting the race to bed. She continued to gallop all the way to the line, despite being far out in front with two furlongs to run. It was a breathtaking performance by Time Lock, partnered by Ryan Moore, and the Fillies & Mares Stakes on British Champions Day could be her next assignment.
Lightly-raced Sweet Memories was bidding for a hat-trick of victories but had to settle for second. The three-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars was by far the best of the rest and lost little in defeat, beaten by an older, more capable rival on this occasion. She is an exciting young filly and a Group level success is within her reach.
Joint-favourite Novakai was niggled along before most of her rivals but found little under pressure when eventual winner Time Lock cantered past. Running Lion, despite travelling better throughout the race, could only finish half-a-length ahead of Novakai, staying on at the same pace, with little acceleration. The daughter of Roaring Lion was stepping up in trip for the first time, but didn’t finish her race strongly enough to suggest that 1m4f is her optimum distance. A drop back in trip is likely to be better suited, but despite showing promise in her first few starts, she has now become exposed.
An eye-catcher in the field was Irish-raider Azazat, representing Dermot Weld as the mount of Chris Hayes. The daughter of Camelot, out of a Sea The Stars mare, had shown ability to place at Group Three level in rain-softened ground at Cork, before finishing second to 104-rated filly Unless on good ground at the Curragh. Despite Azazat’s best form being on softer ground, she handled the good to firm surface well on British debut, staying on strongly having been on the back foot from the outset.
Slowly away and outpaced at the rear of the field, she was encouraged by Hayes to close the gap but struggled to quicken when asked and became detached. However, she stayed on, passing beaten rivals and galloping towards the line, suggesting the trip on the ground perhaps didn’t suit, and a step up in distance, or a return to an easier surface would see her to best effect. With a stamina-laden pedigree, she possesses plenty of potential over the middle-distance trip and in staying races in future.
A field of six runners lined up in the Rockfel Stakes with Ollie Sangster’s exciting New Bay filly Shuwari, attempting a third successive win to extend her unbeaten run, the 13/8 favourite. Aidan O’Brien’s Ylang Ylang appeared the best filly in an exceptional crop of juveniles at Ballydoyle prior to her below par performance when last of nine in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival. On a recovery mission, her trainer had suggested prior to the race that this would be a preparation run with a view towards the 1000 Guineas next year, with the aim of finishing her season on a more positive note than the disappointment at the Curragh.
Neither of the leading market principles could claim the plaudits however, as it was Simon and Ed Crisford’s Carla’s Way who took the initiative under James Doyle, tracking leader Spiritual who set off quickly out in front, pouncing late on and winning with ease. The Starspangledbanner filly benefitted from sitting just in behind the leader, putting lengths between herself and her main rivals in doing so, and reaping the rewards. She has built on a maiden success over subsequent Listed winner Star Of Mystery, and was deserving of a black-type victory of her own. A trip to Santa Anita could now be in the offing for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, with Classic success at Newmarket the aim next season, if she is effective over a mile.
Runner-up Shuwari travelled at the rear of the field and couldn’t make up the ground on the eventual winner. She lost little in defeat in a strangely run race, staying on strongly having travelled comfortably throughout. There will be plenty of other prizes to be won with her as she is an exciting filly going forward that will likely show further progression when up in trip.
Ylang Ylang will have learnt plenty from her Newmarket experience, with jockey Ryan Moore and trainer O’Brien likely learning plenty about the 1,500,000gns yearling purchase too. The daughter of Frankel was slowly away and covered on the rail, being taught to settle and relax by Moore. She was pushed along to keep up with her rivals with three furlongs to run and struggled to stay with Shuwari, becoming detached. However, half-a-furlong out she began to quicken under a hands-and-heels ride, eased into the race without ever mounting a threatening challenge. She possesses a lot of ability and the 50/1 best price available for next year’s 1000 Guineas is of huge value considering her profile, the educational nature of this runout and the fact that it is likely to be her main target.
Mutasabeeq made it five from six on the Rowley Mile as he retained his Group Two Joel Stakes crown, narrowly beating outsider Regal Reality to land the prize at odds of 11/4. Clearly suited by the nature of the course at Newmarket, the son of Invincible Spirit showed fighting spirit to claim his seventh career win, and a trip to the USA for the Breeders’ Cup isn’t out of the question, with a strongly run mile on fast ground perfectly suiting the five-year-old.
Eight-year-old Regal Reality battled hard in defeat, coming under pressure and looking beaten before finding a second wind and coming back to challenge eventual winner Mutasabeeq. With another yard or two, he may have found himself in the winner’s enclosure, but it was another great gallant effort by the veteran performer who is an extremely likeable type, and never one to rule out.
Chindit has been consistent this season and put in another good performance in a quick turnaround following his Fortune Stakes success at Sandown, whilst Maljoom, returning from a 472-day lay off, raced too freely and was never involved, perhaps needing the run after a lengthy absence.
SATURDAY
Exciting colt Ghostwriter was an assertive winner of the Royal Lodge Stakes, providing trainer Clive Cox with his first winner in the race. The son of Invincible Spirit extended his unbeaten run to three, landing a first black-type success. He travelled smoothly into the race, quickening effectively when asked and putting the race to bed with ease. A big, imposing type, Ghostwriter could be a force to be reckoned with next term as he shows further growth and physical improvement, and is likely to begin his three-year-old campaign unbeaten.
Favourite Capulet looked set to build on his second to stablemate Diego Velazquez in the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and land a first graded victory, but could only manage third having been outpaced in the middle part of the race and struggling to handle the track. Shaping as though he is still developing and learning to race and rallying towards the finish, the Justify colt out of 1m4f Group Two winner Wedding Vow (Galileo) will relish a step up in trip, appearing to possess stamina and a strong staying ability.
Splitting the two at the head of the market was Al Musmak, the Roger Varian-trained colt that had previously finished second to yesterday’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Rosallion. The formline is likely to work out well, and the first three past the post are all ones to follow going forward.
The Cheveley Park Stakes was won by Albany Stakes heroine Porta Fortuna for in-form trainer Donnacha O’Brien, who has a 46% strike rate in recent weeks. The daughter of Caravaggio finished in a dead-heat third with Ornellaia, behind winner Fallen Angel and runner-up Vespertilio, when upped in trip over 7f. Now returning over 6f, she made light work of her opposition under Oisin Murphy, extending clear of the field to win by a length-and-a-half, clearly the best in the race.
A big priced outsider for Aidan O’Brien, Pearls And Rubies, finished strongly from the rear of the field, showing masses of improvement from her previous two runs and returning to form, whilst stablemate Cherry Blossom put in a respectable effort in fourth. Sacred Angel improved on her Prix Morny fourth to finish second, suited by the better going on this occasion and proving herself as a contender at this level.
The absence of both Relief Rally and Juniper Berries in this race is worth noting however, as they both had Group level successes to their name and could have made the frame, especially the former who was last seen winning the Lowther Stakes and was likely to go off as a strong favourite.
The Group One for the colts followed, as the Middle Park Stakes was won by Vandeek, the subject of great market support before the off. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained colt landed his fourth successive victory and confirmed the Prix Morny form where he finished two-and-a-quarter-lengths ahead of River Tiber. The impressive looking son of Havana Grey cost 625,000gns this year, but has already been reaping rewards for his owners, justifying his price tag with two Group One successes to add to his Group Two Richmond Stakes prize. An exciting prospect for next season, Vandeek will be difficult to beat and looks like the pick of this crop of juveniles, at least in the UK.
Task Force stayed on well to finish second, narrowly beating River Tiber in the closing stages when finishing best of all behind the impressive winner. On only his third start, and first appearance at Group One level, his performance was pleasing, and the son of Frankel may improve for a step up in trip.
The aforementioned Ballydoyle representative, River Tiber, was slightly disappointing as he was unable to improve on the form of his Deauville run, despite being more prepared for the task this time around. The Coventry Stakes winner finished third in the contest, and was unable to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a record-extending eighth victory in the race, but may have bumped into a potential superstar in the form of Vandeek and could still be capable of Group One success in future.
Expensive purchase Givemethebeatboys was far from disgraced in fourth, but he is now exposed at this level and being by Bungle Inthejungle he’s unlikely to improve for a step up in trip. However, his dam was a winner of a handicap over 1m4f and therefore he could possess some stamina, but damsire Dutch Art is another known for producing sprinting types, therefore a mile may be Givemethebeatboys’ limit and unless he shows significant improvement from two to three he appears unlikely to challenge for the major honours.
Cover photo by JTW Equine Images (@JTWEquineImag)
Thanks to JTW Equine Images and Rory Fraser Photography for the permission to use their images. Use of the images are subject to copyright and a request to use any images must be directed to the photographers.
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