Month: August 2023

Frankie Makes It Eight In The Jacques le Marois On Frankel’s Inspiral

It had to happen and thankfully it did. Frankie's final ride at Deauville was one for the memory store on Sunday, as one of the world's finest of all time engineered a super-smooth eighth victory in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois out of Cheveley Park Stud's Rolls Royce Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Starscope {GB}, by Selkirk). Showing why he is and has been so prominent in his trade for so long, the Italian judged the pace set by Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to a tee as he anchored the Gosdens' 4-year-old in rear early.

Only delivered when it was necessary and not a second before, Inspiral was able to cruise to that G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up passing the furlong pole and was soon beyond recall for her own second edition. Surprisingly an 8-1 shot, perhaps because of doubts about her performance at a rain-soaked Goodwood and about the 11-day turnaround from the G1 Sussex S., she was in a class of her own here en route to a comfortable 1 1/4-length verdict over Yeguada Centurion's 2-1 favourite as last year's runner-up Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) again made the frame the same margin away in third.

This was also a remarkable fourth consecutive win for the Clarehaven-Dettori axis, with Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) having also brought up consecutive successes in 2020 and 2021. “She's a fantastic filly and this is my last race at Deauville, so to finish with a win like this is incredible,” the rider said. “I was very easy on her at Goodwood, as this was always the target and she showed what a true champion she is. I've won every race here and 19 group ones, so I have great memories–some wonderful days and wonderful nights!”

 

Even before she showed a distaste for the mud at Goodwood, Inspiral had failed to spark in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on similar ground with only a narrow defeat to Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot in between offering hope that she retained the kind of ability that had seen her dazzle in the G1 Coronation S. at the previous Royal meeting. This was categoric proof that she not only retained that level of proficiency, but can also be seen as a career-best as she left some of this year's mile Classic protagonists trailing as well as the impressive G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).

While Big Rock was able to tick off regular sectionals of around 11.5 seconds until two out, the extra fuel that Frankie had saved throughout the first three furlongs served him well as the Head colt began to feel the pinch. Swallowing up his advantage with splits of 11.34, 11.08 and 11.36 between the four and the one, she was able to coast to the line with the high-class 3-year-old having used up all his speed. “She needs a good pace and not soft ground, and on her conditions she got to work today. When she's good, she's very good and this is the stuff of dreams,” Dettori added.

Gosden Sr is looking at the Breeders' Cup Mile for the winner and said, “To win this great race twice with Palace Pier, twice with this filly and of course with Kingman is a great honour and very special. I like it because it's run on a straight, flat and fair track and usually there are no hard-luck stories. Inspiral can be brilliant on her day and was pretty fresh–she's only run twice this year–and came here in top order.”

“She can grab the bridle and the pace was all on the far side, which worried us as she was drawn one but she's been given a great ride as she's ended up in stall 12 effectively and come around the long way in the end. She got left at Ascot and can play about when that happens. When Frankie took her to the front he looked after her and maybe we will take her to Santa Anita, even though it is a tight track for her.”

Christopher Head said of Big Rock, “He has run a very good race and been beaten by a better horse. There are no excuses and he ran big. There is no disgrace being beaten by this top filly and we'll stick to the plan and head to the [G1] Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.”

Pedigree Notes

Starscope, who was runner-up in the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S., had produced just the listed-placed middle-distance performer Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}) prior to Inspiral but has now delivered Cheveley Park with another illustrious runner in the red, white and blue. She is a daughter of Moon Goddess (GB) (Rainbow Quest), also the dam of the Listed Rosemary S. winner Solar Magic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) but more importantly a half-sister to the operation's G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Juddmonte International-winning sire Medicean (GB). Also connected to the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Mondreise (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and leading sire Caro (Ire), her 2-year-old colt by Siyouni (Fr) is named Megastar (GB), while she has a yearling son of Ulysses (Ire) and a 2023 full-sister to Inspiral to follow.

Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX DU HARAS DE FRESNAY-LE-BUFFARD JACQUES LE MAROIS-G1, €1,000,000, Deauville, 8-13, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.62, g/s.
1–INSPIRAL (GB), 128, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
      1st Dam: Starscope (GB) (MG1SP-Eng, $251,626), by Selkirk
      2nd Dam: Moon Goddess (GB), by Rainbow Quest
      3rd Dam: Mystic Goddess, by Storm Bird
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. €571,400. Lifetime Record: Champion 2yo Filly-Eur, MG1SW-Eng, 10-6-2-0, €2,193,120. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Big Rock (Fr), 125, c, 3, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)–Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (FR); T-Christopher Head. €228,600.
3–Light Infantry (Fr), 131, c, 4, Fast Company (Ire)–Lights On Me (GB), by Kyllachy (GB). (€25,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY; £82,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Never Say Die & Light Infantry Partnership; B-Barbara Moser (FR); T-David Simcock. €114,300.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 7.80, 2.10, 9.00.
Also Ran: Onesto (Ire), Triple Time (Ire), Erevann (Fr), Good Guess (GB), Angers (Fr), Hi Royal (Ire), Life In Motion (Ire), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Tamayuz’s Simca Mille Too Good For Grosser Preis von Berlin Rivals

Haras de la Perelle's 4-year-old colt Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}–Swertia {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}), a three-time Group 2 scorer back home in France and unbeaten in four pattern races shy of top-flight company, made the breakthrough in his fourth attempt at Group 1 level with a decisive win–and a landmark for trainer Stephane Wattel–in an international renewal of Sunday's G1 Westminster 133rd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten.

April's G1 Prix Ganay runner-up and June's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner broke alertly from the outside stall, finding a modicum of cover after passing the judge first time, and was positioned within range of the leaders–headed by Godolphin's New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and dual Group 1-winning 2022 Deutsches Derby hero Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB})–occupying a handy fourth out in the country. Powering forward out wide once into the straight, the 1-2 favourite inched ahead of last year's third Sammarco racing hard on the steel passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out inside the final furlong to easily withstand the late threat of 2021 G1 Deutsches Derby victor Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) by 3/4-of-a-length. Sisfahan's Henk Grewe stablemate and last term's sixth Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) ran on well to finish 2 1/4 lengths back in third. In a photographic quirk, Polish challenger Le Destrier (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), New London and Lady Ewelina (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) were in unison at the line and dead-heated for fifth.

“It is fantastic for the horse and, I have to admit, it's very nice for me because it's my first Group 1 after more than 30 years of training,” said an emotional Wattel in the aftermath. “I am so happy it happened here in Berlin with this fantastic crowd. It's a difficult job and sometimes it's tough, but when we train horses of this quality we can forget everything as this makes it all worthwhile.” Looking to the immediate future, the trainer tipped his hat to recent winners Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and added, “Simca Mille is engaged in the [G1 Prix de l'] Arc de Triomphe and some good winners of this race have run very well in that race. That should be the next target and it's a very big one.”

Rider Alexis Pouchin engaged celebratory mode early and allowed his mount to coast home in the dying strides before unleashing a joyful shadow punch across the line. “We had a great trip, he's a very good horse and found it quite easy in the straight,” he said. “I just kept him going and he responded well.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Simca Mille, who becomes the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire, is the first of three foals and lone scorer produced by a daughter of G3 Prix de Conde, G3 Prix Penelope and G3 Prix Cleopatre third Sanjida (Ire) (Polish Precedent). Sanjida is kin to three black-type winners headed by multiple Group 1-winning European champion Sarafina (Fr) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), herself the dam of Group 3-winning siblings Savarin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Geniale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Simca Mille, kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Slawena (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), is from the family of G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Preis von Europa hero Sumayr (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}).

Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany
WESTMINSTER 133RD GROSSER PREIS VON BERLIN-G1, €155,000, Hoppegarten, 8-13, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:34.24, gd.
1–SIMCA MILLE (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Tamayuz (GB)
1st Dam: Swertia (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Sanjida (Ire), by Polish Precedent
3rd Dam: Sanariya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€68,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Haras de la Perelle & Stephane Wattel; B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Stephane Wattel; J-Alexis Pouchin. €100,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Fr, 14-7-5-0, €610,840. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sisfahan (Fr), 132, h, 5, Isfahan (Ger)–Kendalee (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€16,000 Ylg '19 ARQNOV). O-Darius Racing & Michael Motschmann; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Henk Grewe. €30,000.
3–Assistent (Ger), 132, c, 4, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Anna Kalla (Ger), by Kalatos (Ger). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€58,000 Ylg '20 BBAGS). O-Eckhard Sauren & Liberty Racing 2020; B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €15,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, 3. Odds: 0.50, 17.20, 9.10.
Also Ran: Sammarco (Ire), *Le Destrier (Ire), *New London (Ire), *Lady Ewelina (GB).
*Three-way dead-heat for fifth.

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Grey Man Adds Lustre To Banner Weekend For Wootton Bassett In The Francois Boutin

Patrice Cottier trainee Grey Man (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Top Toss {Ire}, by Linamix {Fr}), successful in two of three prior outings, headed postward with crowd confidence for Sunday's G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville and returned to the winner's enclosure with a first black-type rosette having dominated late in the seven-furlong test.

The 6-5 favourite accepted a tow in second after breaking on the lead and settled into a comfortable rhythm through halfway. Looming large going well approaching the quarter-mile pole, he was beyond recall once wresting the initiative from Mythology (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) with 300 metres remaining and was easily on top in the latter stages as that rival rallied to finish one length down at the line. Listed Criterium du Bequet third Kumite (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) fared best of the remainder and finished six lengths back in third.

 

 

“We were convinced beforehand that the horse had a great chance,” said owner Jean-Philippe Dubois. “He had improved again from his last run and today it looked like he had the race won two out. He has won over 6 3/4 [furlongs], seven [furlongs] today and a mile last time, so he is quite versatile. For sure, he is a very good one. We shall see how he comes out of the race and then we'll decide what will be next. Right now I don't know, but there are plenty of opportunities.”

Grey Man had opened up with a June 3 debut score over 6 3/4 furlongs at Lyon Parilly and suffered a narrow defeat back there later in June before regaining the winning habit upped to one mile at Clairefontaine last month. His victory here adds lustre to a banner weekend for Wootton Bassett, whose Bucanero Fuerte (GB) hit the heights in Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at the Curragh.

Pedigree Notes
Grey Man, who becomes the 25th pattern-race winner for his sire, is the eighth of nine foals and one of four winners produced by G3 Prix d'Aumale and G3 Prix de Psyche victrix Top Toss (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}), herself out of Listed Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Tossup (Gone West). The January-foaled bay is a half-brother to dual Group 3-winning G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Coronation S. second Lesstalk In Paris (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Dastarhon (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and a yearling filly by Le Havre (Ire). He hails from the family of GI E P Taylor S. runner-up Tigertail (Fr) (Priolo) and his fifth dam Bold Consort (Bold Ruler) is a full-sister to US champion juvenile and leading sire Bold Lad.

Sunday, Deauville, France
CIRCUS MAXIMUS PRIX FRANCOIS BOUTIN-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 8-13, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.36, g/s.
1–GREY MAN (FR), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Top Toss (Ire) (MGSW-Fr, $240,020), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Tossup, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Tovalop, by Northern Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€39,000 RNA Wlg '21 ARQDEC; €60,000 RNA Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Julien Dubois & Jean-Philippe Dubois; B-Ecurie Skymarc Farm (FR); T-Patrice Cottier; J-Marvin Grandin. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €73,900. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mythology (Ire), 126, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Rely On Me (Ire), by Kyllachy (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (62,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; 320,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Teme Valley; B-E Smith & Cloneymore Farm (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €16,000.
3–Kumite (GB), 126, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nawassi (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (100,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA; €200,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Mme Erika Gilliar; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Jerome Reynier. €12,000.
Margins: 1, 6, 4. Odds: 1.20, 7.60, 4.30.
Also Evade (Fr), Majestic One (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Harris Homebred Closing Remarks Takes Yellow Ribbon Under Rispoli

Harris Farms' homebred mare Closing Remarks took advantage of a ground-saving ride by Umberto Rispoli to come away with a neck victory Saturday at Del Mar in the Grade 2, $251,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap in the second of two graded stakes on the 10-race card.

The winner, a California-bred by the late stallion Vronsky, stayed close throughout the 1 1/16-mile grass feature, then drove hard through the lane to prove a neck best at the finish. The 5-year-old chestnut, who is trained by Carla Gaines, captured the fifth victory in the 21st start of her career and picked up a first prize of $150,000 to bring her career earnings to $711,320.

Finishing second was Nentwig, Beast Mode Racing and CYBT's Spirit And Glory, who was a length and a quarter better than third-place finisher Ganadora, owned by Baoma Corp.

Closing Remarks, who went off the 23-10 favorite in the field of seven, returned $6.60 to her backers. She ran the 1 1/126 miles on firm turf in 1:42.01 in this, the 71st edition of the stakes.

“Being on the rail obviously, basically, what you want to do is get the best out of it,” said Rispoli. “I was trying to get her in a nice position. I knew Ganadora was going to be on the lead. The best was going to be a matter of finding a way to go at the top of the stretch. I think she (Closing Remarks) has been very alive her past couple of races. Today she improved, and can compete with those horses. A huge win for Mr. (John) Harris. Carla gives a good prep in the morning and well done to the team.”

“Umberto (Rispoli) is the best,” said Gaines. “If there is any space he's going to get through and that's what he did. In grass racing you always want to save ground and he's a master at it, so I just left it up to him. She didn't have to make up quite as much ground as in her previous races and she loves this turf course.”

The stakes win was the fourth of the meet for rider Rispoli and the first for trainer Gaines.

Rispoli now has 22 wins in Del Mar stakes, including his score in this same race last year aboard Going Global.

Gaines was registering her first victory in the Yellow Ribbon, but her 18th overall in stakes at the shore oval.

Umberto Rispoli celebrates Closing Remarks' Yellow Ribbon victory

The track's Pick Six wager, which had a guaranteed $1-million payout for any single-ticket winner Saturday, was not hit, meaning its $373,278 carryover will go into tomorrow's “mandatory payout” day for the popular wager. A potential final prize in the $3-million-plus range is surely possible for the bet on Sunday, which all will be paid out to those with the most number of winners with no carryovers involved.

Racing is back and running at Del Mar Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. The Pick Six wager will be on races 5 through 10.

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