Formerly owned by the Rogues Gallery, who picked her up for 35,000gns at the Tattersalls Mare December Sale as an unraced 2-year-old in 2021, the now-5-year-old mare was fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO Champions Day last out in October. She was knocked down for 1.65 million gns at that same sale in December, with Lanigan/Durcan agent on the ticket on behalf of Heider Family Stables.

“She gives the impression that she'll always appreciate better ground and she shows plenty of pace,” said O'Brien. “We won't be shy about travelling her and have a long list of potential options for her in America where we think the style of racing will suit her. She's a very exciting prospect to have in the yard.”

O'Brien also had updates on several other stable stars, among them G2 Blandford S. winner Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). A good third to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera last October, she was not disgraced in the colours of Michael O'Flynn when sixth to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf a month later in California. The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in May is first on her assignment sheet this term.

“She had a busy campaign last season, but never let us down and kept improving,” said O'Brien. “We all got a real thrill from her win in the Blandford S., and it was great that her owner Michael O'Flynn was there on the day to enjoy it with us.

“We are looking at the Tattersalls Gold Cup as an early-season target and will drive on from there.”

Group 1-winning juvenile Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a winner of the 2022 G1 National S., enjoyed a brief campaign at three in 2023. Second in the G3 International S. at the beginning of July, he filled that spot again in the wake of undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano in August. The 4-year-old entire is also pleasing O'Brien, and has been handed French targets, including the G1 Prix Ganay in April.

O'Brien said, “We are delighted with him. He was always a tall, rangy horse and has filled out into a magnificent athlete now.

“We were very sweet on him for the Irish Champion S., but a little issue the day before meant we couldn't run. Everything has gone very smoothly with him this preparation and we are steadily stepping up his work.

“We are working him towards the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp in late April. Longer term, I could see him stepping up to a mile and a half.

“He won a Group 1 over seven furlongs as a 2-year-old and has never looked short of pace, but he has the most lovely, relaxed way of going and it will give him a great chance to carry his pace over further if we ask him to. I'd be very hopeful he can win another Group 1.”

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Mission accomplished for Ace Impact!

The Arc favourite lands the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at @fgdeauville… pic.twitter.com/pq4MHEGXjY

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 15, 2023

Rightly revered for his rapid closing three furlongs of 34.01 in the Jockey Club, Ace Impact was well off a moderate pace this time as Birr Castle led the main group mainly ignoring the rabbit up ahead. Having gifted that Godolphin-Fabre project and top Irish colt Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) a four-length headstart at the three pole, he roared by them with a finishing burst of 34.69 and a potent 10.92 penultimate split in the bargain. Now it is up to connections as to whether they let him unleash that dramatic flourish on the Derby winner and older horses in the Irish Champion or store it up for the Arc.

Rouget was non-committal either way afterwards. “We will have to discuss his future with the partners–either he will have another race before the Arc or go straight to the big one,” he said. “We will have less pressure on than we did today, as these races are very difficult to call beforehand. There is a lot at stake with a horse that is an undefeated brilliant winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and who has been partly sold since. You don't want to lose, you don't know if the horse still wants to fight, if the race will be tactical, if he is ready enough knowing very well that he is not 100% because that's how I do things.”

“You could see early in the race that he was keen, because he is fresh but once the race went into a good rhythm he relaxed,” the Pau-based maestro added. “He showed the same acceleration and just idled a bit at the end, as he needed the race. “It is a big relief for all the reasons I mentioned.”

Christian Demuro was feeling the release of the pressure afterwards. “It is always emotional when you have an unbeaten horse like this and a great relief to see that he has retained all his ability,” he said. “He gave me some trouble getting him to settle, but he did after a furlong and in the straight he quickened strongly and gave me great vibes. He did idle a bit at the end, maybe because he needed the race but also maybe because he trains there every day and knows by heart where to pull himself up.”

Part-owner Serge Stempniak commented, “I had sold half of him to the Chehboub Family and didn't want them to be disappointed, so there was pressure. It was a very important race for his future at stud in France. I have wonderful partners who are so nice to deal with, so I am delighted with the result. I will let Jean-Claude Rouget make the decision with my partners for his next race. Maybe the Irish Champion would be nice on his CV for his future career, but I will let them decide.”

Pedigree Notes
The dual listed-placed dam Absolutly Me has also produced two other listed-placed performers in Apollo Flight (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Alessandro (Fr) (Australia {GB}). Her family includes the top-class British-trained stalwarts Teleprompter (GB), Ibn Bey (GB) and Roseate Tern (GB) and the talented Red Camellia (GB) (Polar Falcon), who took the G3 Prestige S. and was third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches before producing the G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Red Bloom (GB) (Selkirk). The dam's 2-year-old colt Arrow Eagle (Fr) is by Gleneagles (Ire).

Tuesday, Deauville, France
PRIX GUILLAUME D'ORNANO-G2, €400,000, Deauville, 8-15, 3yo, 10fT, 2:07.59, g/s.
1–ACE IMPACT (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Cracksman (GB)
1st Dam: Absolutly Me (Fr) (SP-Fr & Ger), by Anabaa Blue (GB)
2nd Dam: Tadawul, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Barakat (GB), by Bustino (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€75,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Gousserie Racing & Ecuries Serge Stempniak; B-Mme Waltraut Spanner (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €228,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 5-5-0-0, €1,139,100. *1/2 to Apollo Flight (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), MSP-Fr, $139,492; and Alessandro (Fr) (Australia {GB}), SP-Fr, $111,837. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Al Riffa (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Love On My Mind (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€31,000 Wlg '20 ARQDEC; 150,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah; B-Haras d'Etreham, Benoit Chalmel, Cofinvest & Meridian International SARL (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien. €88,000.
3–Birr Castle (Fr), 128, c, 3, Cloth Of Stars (Ire)–Baki (Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€170,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Francois Rohaut (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €42,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 2. Odds: 0.40, 5.50, 11.00.
Also Ran: Greenland (Ire), Cambronne (Fr), Ponty (Fr), Victoria Road (Ire), Straight (Ger). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who got closest to him at a respectable 3 1/2-length deficit, beat all bar Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on Sunday, the fourth home Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) produced a display out of the top drawer himself in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and the fifth Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) managed to overturn Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) at Goodwood, so the Jockey Club form looks at least the equal of the Derby and even possibly better at this stage.

Jean-Claude Rouget is charting a path to the Arc, with the potential of a trip to Leopardstown, and Gousserie's Pauline Chehboub is hoping the dream continues. “Ace Impact is in good form and should run well tomorrow,” she said. “We are targeting some exciting group ones in the autumn, so tomorrow's race is important.”

Joseph and Aidan O'Brien provide a trio of opponents headed by Ballydoyle's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who met with a setback in the spring and missed the Classics as a result. While he will probably need the outing, it is worth remembering that he beat Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the Listed Criterium du FEE at this track 12 months ago and this could be the start of a big autumn for him too. Joseph saddles Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is even more lightly-raced at this stage of his career while if Gestut Karlshof's Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) is the one who dismissed Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}) in the 11-furlong G2 Union-Rennen at Cologne in June and not the one who subsequently flopped in the G1 Deutsches Derby he is interesting in this.

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Joseph O'Brien, who was responsible for two of the last four winners, saddles TDN Rising Star Above The Curve (American Pharoah), who took all of the attention away from Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) when winning last month's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud. Last year's G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner is one of two Coolmore hopes alongside Ballydoyle's Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is backed up 13 days after after her second in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Al Riffa In International Return…
It has taken a while, but Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is back in action in the G3 Paddy Power International S. on the Pretty Polly undercard. Not sighted since winning the track's juvenile feature in September, he is giving Joseph O'Brien all the right vibes as he faces another long-absent colt in Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), last seen finishing a disappointing sixth in the Listed Chesham S. at last year's Royal Ascot.
While Alfred Munnings has to dust off the cobwebs, stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) is back just eight days after her runner-up finish in the Royal meeting's G3 Albany S. as she takes in the G2 Airlie Stud S. Three of Aidan O'Brien's last four winners of this had also been in action in Berkshire, but if this proves too quick a turnaround it may be that it benefits another with Coolmore involvement in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Grand Job (Justify) who was second in Matrika's course-and-distance maiden last month.

Return Acts At Newmarket…
The July Course's season got underway on Thursday and the action there on Saturday is not to be missed, with Charlie Appleby taking the wraps off last year's G3 Gordon S. winner and promoted G1 St Leger runner-up New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Listed Fred Archer S. “New London has had wind surgery since his last run and we have been very pleased with him at home,” his trainer said. “He has been for two racecourse gallops and this looks a good starting point for a campaign that should progress through the summer and into the autumn.”

The Fred Archer also sees the comeback of Shadwell's talented Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who looks to become the latest in a sequence to defy a lengthy lay-off having been sidelined since his win in Ascot's Listed Buckhounds S. last May. Interestingly, William Haggas also brings back another of Sheikha Hissa's stars missing in action of late in Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}) in the card's G3 Criterion S.

“We need soft ground for Aldaary, I declared him when it was raining,” Haggas said of last year's impressive Listed Spring Trophy winner who has been off for the same 420-day stretch as Al Aasy. “The ground is on the slow side at Newmarket, but whether that remains the case we'll see. We can make a decision as late as we need to, but as long as it's not fast I'd say he'll probably run because he needs to get going. Al Aasy is the same, he likes a bit of cut in the ground, but he needs to start. They've both been training well, so I'm hopeful they'll run well.”

In the fixture's opening Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S., Charlie Appleby tests the waters with TDN Rising Star Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) who dazzled at Haydock 16 days ago. She faces Ballylinch Stud's What A Question (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a key member of the Charlie Johnston juvenile academy who was impressive at Goodwood on her debut a day after her Godolphin rival.

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Of the 83, 45 are trained in Ireland and of that number, a colossal 31 are trained by Ballydoyle supremo Aidan O'Brien for various Coolmore partnerships. Top of the heap are Deep Impact (Jpn)'s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy hero Auguste Rodin (Jpn) and the late Shadai kingpin's son's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). The last-named won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in November. The winning duo of Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are other potential Classic stars-in-waiting.

O'Brien's sons, Joseph and Donnacha, field eight between them, led by Group 1 winners Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the latter, and Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for the former.

There are also three chances for His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort to scoop the Blue Riband this year, with the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas-nominated winner Slipofthepen (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) trained by John and Thady Gosden, the William Haggas-trained group-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the winning Sir Michael Stoute charge Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) all nominated. Stoute claimed the 2022 Derby with Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), and he also entered Crystal Mariner (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Robert Ng.

The Gosdens have the largest UK Derby arsenal with 15 colts nominated. Anchoring their brigade is George Strawbridge's 'TDN Rising Star' Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who was second in the Vertem Futurity Trophy S. behind the aforementioned Auguste Rodin.

Of Andrew Balding's quartet, three bear the colours of King Power Racing led by G2 Royal Lodge S. hero The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).

The second entry stage is set for Tuesday, Apr. 4.

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“It's unbelievable,” said Browne McMonagle after claiming a maiden top-level success. “He was very straightforward from the gates. He jumped, travelled good and loved the soft conditions. I was really happy the whole way through. I was keen to move up to the boys going to the three [furlong pole]. I didn't want them to get too far in front of me in that ground because it would have been hard to peg them back. As soon as I gave him a little kick in the belly and he moved onto the bridle, I was always the winner. I was travelling over the top of them, he picked up good and put it to bed very quick. It's hard to believe and, hopefully it's the first of many. It's down to Joseph [O'Brien] and a massive thanks to everyone behind the scenes at home. I wouldn't be here without my family, Mum and Dad and everyone's here today so it's great. It means a lot, I couldn't have done it on a bigger stage and it's great to get one.”

Al Riffa, who becomes the sixth Group 1 winner for his sire (by Iffraaj {GB}), is the lone scorer produced by an unraced daughter of the stakes-winning Moments Of Joy (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who also threw the dual G3 Sagaro S. victor Mizzou (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Give Thanks S. placegetter Eternal Bounty (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Noblesse S. third Unity (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Eternal Bounty is the dam of G3 Hampton Court S. third Secret Protector (War Front) while Unity's leading performer is Listed Wild Flower S. victor Crimean Tatar (Tur) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Moments Of Joy is the leading representative of G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille-winning champion My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G1 St Leger and G1 Gold Cup hero Classic Cliche (Ire) (Salse). Love On My Mind has a yearling filly by Land Force (Ire) to come.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT O'BRIEN NATIONAL S.-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-11, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:29.31, sf.
1–AL RIFFA (FR), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Love On My Mind (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Moments Of Joy (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: My Emma (GB), by Marju (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€31,000 Wlg '20 ARQDEC; 150,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah; B-SARL de Chambure Haras d'Etreham, Benoit Chalmel & SARL Compagni (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Browne McMonagle. €240,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $256,256. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Proud And Regal (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Simply Perfect (GB), by Danehill. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Shartash (Ire), 131, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Shamreen (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. €40,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 9.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Aesop's Fables (Ire), Hans Andersen (GB), Marbaan (GB).

A first G1 success for Dylan Browne McMonagle who guides Al Riffa to glory in the G1 @Goffs1866 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes

A second win in the race for @JosephOBrien2 @curraghrace @IrishChampsWknd #LICW22 pic.twitter.com/fUuGgvOS9B

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 11, 2022

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