Tag: Big Rock (Fr)

Chantilly: How Big Can The Rock Get?

Chantilly offers its riposte to Epsom's Derby jamboree on Sunday as the 183rd edition of the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club welcomes France's new star of the middle-distance division, Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Initially slow to develop into the barnstorming character he has become, Yeguada Centurion's homebred would be an emotive winner for Christopher Head in the week that his beloved grandmother Ghislaine passed away.

Introduced this year by Head in this track's Prix du Chene des Trois Freres handicap on the Polytrack in February, Big Rock has hardly had a customary build-up to this 10 1/2-furlong Classic since leaving Mathieu Brasme. As he subsequently bulldozed his way through the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault again on the Polytrack here in March, ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix la Force in April and the G3 Prix de Guiche which has come to serve as Chantilly's course prep for this, no rival has come within respectable distance to him at the finish.

For Head, the journey from that day in February to a potential second stable Classic has been a surprising and remarkable one.

“He takes his racing so easily and his last piece of work was much better than the ones he did before his prep races,” he said this week. “There is the question of the distance, but we know that his powers of recovery have been good racing over 1800 metres and we'll soon find out. My relationship with Aurélien Lemaître stems from the days when he rode for my father and we've always had a very good rapport, but we never thought we'd get this far. It's incredible. I'm delighted to be having this adventure alongside him.”

The Flame Still Flickers

Pascal Bary knew all about how to win the old “French Derby” when it was run over the true Derby trip of a mile and a half, collecting five renewals including the last staged over that distance in 2004. He has one of the new re-modelled versions courtesy of 2023's first-season sire Study Of Man (Ire) and looks for a second via Jean-Louis Bouchard's unbeaten TDN Rising Star Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}). He was supplemented following his defeat of the subsequent G3 Prix Hocquart winner First Minister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and fellow TDN Rising Star Silver Crack (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}) in ParisLongchamp's Prix de Ferrieres over slightly further than this trip in April, a race which stands up to any inspection as a valid trial despite lacking black-type status.

“When it came to entering our horses in the Prix du Jockey-Club, I never envisaged Feed The Flame

coming under orders,” Bary admitted. “He's physically an impressive colt and, in common with many horses with his physique, he has taken time to find his feet and the penny dropped very late in his case. He is familiar with Chantilly racecourse, as he trained there before his debut and he made a return trip there last Tuesday. I've tried to give him enough time between his initial first two races and the Jockey Club, even if he won without having to force his talent in them.”

Pursuing The Classic Double

Since the Jockey Club trip was shortened in 2005, four colts have completed the double after taking the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Jaber Abdullah's Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) bids to follow suit on contrasting ground. Trainer Andreas Schutz is happy that he will stay and said, “The longer trip will perhaps help him. I'm very happy with the way he's developing, both mentally and physically.” Behind that peer in the ParisLongchamp Classic was the disappointing favourite American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is bred to stay this trip and who may have an ace up his sleeve. “In the lead-up to the French 2000 Guineas, we were too laid-back,” trainer Yann Barberot said of Malcolm Parrish's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau winner. “The longer trip can only be a plus for American Flag and he has every chance. In his last piece of work, he was in a relaxed frame of mind–he can be a bit of a rascal, but he is very focused and very diligent.”

The Rouget Triumvirate

It is never wise to rule out a runner from Jean-Claude Rouget's stable, but in truth only one of his three-strong representation this time is unexposed and that is Serge Stempniak's Listed Prix de Suresnes winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}). Talked of in glowing terms following that impressive success over 10 furlongs at this circuit, he is the pick of Cristian Demuro but Rouget is keeping faith with the beaten Prix de Guiche runners Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a TDN Rising Star, and Rajapour (Ire) (Almanzor {GB}). “You have to draw a line under the last performances of Padishakh and Rajapour in the Prix de Guiche, as the ground was too testing for them,” he said.

Classic Action At Dusseldorf

Sunday also sees the G2 Wempe 103rd German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf, where Godolphin's Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal) will be a warm order bringing 1000 Guineas form to the party. Her form with that Classic's heroine Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in Dubai and with Friday's Oaks third Caernarfon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) in last year's Listed Montrose Fillies' S. sets the standard. Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's G2 Prix du Calvados winner Wed (Fr) (Profitable {Ire}) needs to bounce back to that form after two off-the-board efforts, which also applies to the pick of the home team on paper, Gestut Fahrhof's G3 Zukunfts-Rennen-winning TDN Rising Star Habana (Ger) (Kingman {GB}).

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Epsom: Can Soul Sister Be Frankie’s Last Dance?

It still seems hard to imagine, given how long he has been omnipresent in British racing, but Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks will mark the penultimate Epsom Classic experience in the saddle for Frankie Dettori. It may also prove his best chance of going out in a blaze of glory, as Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) looks the more likely of his Friday and Saturday mounts to conjure that soon-to-be-missed flying dismount. Carrying the “Sariska” silks of Lady Bamford, the homebred left no one in any doubt that she is a top-class prospect when making a mockery of inflated odds in York's G3 Musidora S. last month.

“I was impressed because the filly quickened nicely and clocked a good time,” he said. I hope the trip won't be a problem, all the signs are good. She settled well and she finished the race strongly at York, so I believe that it will not be an issue. You don't really know until you try, but I think she will be fine.”

The Lion's Share

While Frankie prepares to bid farewell, Oisin Murphy is hoping his career can enjoy the same longevity and as far as the Oaks is concerned it is time to catch up with the outgoing legend on six wins in this Classic. David Howden's Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion) is taking the Ouija Board (GB) and Taghrooda (GB) route to this Classic, having won Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly S. with a deal of authority. As nine of the last 10 renewals have gone to either Aidan O'Brien or John Gosden, she is at least from the right stable and if she has the stamina for this will be a danger to all.

Grounds For Concern

While Aidan O'Brien is convinced that Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is not a soft-ground specialist, the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner has to prove she can reproduce the same kind of performance on the liveliest surface she has encountered to date on a track that will test her versatility to the full. Both the Gosdens' runners have no flaws in that respect, so Ryan Moore will have to make sure he is not as far adrift early as he was at Chester. Those with bigger uncertainty hovering over them include Godolphin's Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who despite her obvious talent has yet to race on turf, and a clutch of unproven stayers. They include the Hunscote Stud colourbearer Caernarfon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), surprisingly the only member of the cast to bring 1000 Guineas form into the mix having been fourth in the Newmarket Classic. “We will be taking on well-touted fillies who have done very well in their Oaks trials, but they have got to step up in class and we've already been and proven that we can mix it at that sort of level,” trainer Jack Channon said. “We just hope that the extra distance will elevate her a couple of places.”

Westover Primed For Epsom Return

Few would not concede that with a clear run Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) would have been at least second in last year's Derby and probably would have shaken up the winner, so his reappearance on the famous Surrey Downs is to be welcomed in Friday's G1 DahlBury Coronation Cup. Juddmonte's homebred went on to show what he could do in the G1 Irish Derby before a mix of over-exuberance and the effects of a busy schedule took their toll in the King George, as they did for that race's other flop Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who joins him again. As well as showcasing his own talent here, the Ralph Beckett-trained 4-year-old also puts the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic success of Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) back into focus.

“It was a big run in Dubai, he likes good ground, we know that now,” Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said. “He's a big horse with a knee action and we thought he'd go on softer ground, but I think the Arc showed us he can go on it fine but he's better on fast ground, so hopefully we get that and he can run a big race.”

Tunnes Of Ability

Coronation Cups have been won by overseas raiders several times before and following the exploits of his half-brother Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Holger Renz's Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}) is not one to be taken lightly. His 10-length victory in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern in November stands up to inspection and trainer Peter Schiergen is hoping this will lead to the Ascot feature in July in which his half-sibling was second. “If he runs well, we might plan to run him in the King George,” he said.

Big Sigh Of Relief

Thursday saw a final field of 11 declared for Sunday's €1.5-million G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, with good news for connections of likely favourite Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) as Yeguada Centurion's homebred sensation was drawn in two. Jaber Abdullah's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) is in four, while TDN Rising Star and supplementary entry Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) has been allocated stall six.

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‘He’s A Magical Horse’–Head Delighted With Big Rock

If there was any doubt who was the Cork Of The North among the French 3-year-old middle-distance colts heading into Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}–Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) provided the emphatic answer with a dominant display at a rain-soaked Chantilly. Compared to Frankel (GB) by the commentary team of Racing Galop afterwards, the homebred first foal out of the owner-breeder's €72,000 Goffs November purchase from The Aga Khan's draft was more Old Vic (GB) as he sliced through the testing ground to kill off all threats without Aurelien Lemaitre needing to delve into the deep reserves. Out on his own for the entirety of the nine-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club prep, the 6-5 favourite was sauntering late on with his peers coming home behind him at margins more akin to steeplechases.

At the line, the powerhouse G3 Prix la Force winner whose family includes all The Aga Khan's “H” luminaries headed by the Derby and Irish Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) had five lengths to spare over Le Haras de la Gousserie's Patrice Cottier-trained Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), with another four back to Grey Tornado (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) from the Henri-Alex Pantall stable. TDN Rising Star Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was beaten 14 1/2 lengths in fourth, with the other big representatives Rajapour (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Flight Leader (GB) (Frankel {GB}) the last two home by unthinkably large margins.

Jockey Club The Aim

It is a big week for Leopoldo Fernández Pujals' breeding operation and the Christopher Head stable, with Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in pole position in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches now that Big Rock has spurned dreams of a 2023 Classic double.

“He is an amazing horse with such a high cruising speed–he destroys the field,” the trainer said of the homebred, beaten on his inauspicious first three starts for the Mathieu Brasme stable and unbeaten since the switch, including a handicap and the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault at this track. “It's even more amazing on such testing ground. He was really very, very impressive today, more than ever.”

“We got him at the beginning of the season, but he showed his class pretty early on,” Head told TDN Europe of Big Rock.

“Because of the ground, I wasn't expecting such a dominant win. It was a nice result and a proper preparation for the Jockey Club. That's the main aim.”

He added, “It's very important to be able to train this calibre of horse. I really want to thank Yeguada Centurion, and the confidence they have instilled in the stable. Their project is exceptional and will get better and better in time. I'm very lucky to train for them.

“We are looking forward to Blue Rose Cen, running for the same owners, in the French Guineas this weekend.”

Pedigree Notes

Hardiyna, by the aforementioned Harzand's sire, is an unraced daughter of the G3 Silver Flash S. scorer Harasiya (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who was also second in the G2 Debutante S. and third in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. The third dam is the G3 Athasi S. winner Hazariya (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), who alongside Harasiya and Harzand also produced three other black-type performers including the Listed Finale S. winner Hazarafa (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) who was in turn responsible for the G3 Derby Trial and G3 Amethyst S. scorer Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal).

Hazariya is a half to Barathea's G3 Blue Wind S. winner and G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks third Hazarista (Ire) and listed-placed Hidden Brief (GB), better known as the dam of last year's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine and Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) also by Sea The Stars. Hardiyna's second foal is a 2-year-old colt by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) who was a potential bargain €20,000 purchase by Emil Zahariev at Arqana Deauville October.

Tuesday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 5-9, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:55.48, hy.
1–BIG ROCK (FR), 128, c, 3, by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
     1st Dam: Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Harasiya (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
     3rd Dam: Hazariya (Ire), by Xaar (GB)
O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0, €134,650. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Horizon Dore (Fr), 128, g, 3, Dabirsim (Fr)–Sweet Alabama (Fr), by Enrique (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€45,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Gousserie Racing, Ecurie du Sud, Ecurie Gribomont, Daniel Dumoulin, Mlle Chantal Becq & Mme Francoise Delaunay; B-Mlle Chantal Becq (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €16,000.
3–Grey Tornado (Fr), 128, c, 3, The Grey Gatsby (Ire)–Veldargent (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€25,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Patrice Bourigault & Mlle Ingrid Pantall; B-Patrick Chedeville & Mme Yvette Pantall (FR); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. €12,000.
Margins: 5, 4, 5HF. Odds: 1.20, 7.60, 15.00.
Also Ran: Padishakh (Fr), Circeo (Ire), Rajapour (Ire), Flight Leader (GB). Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

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Rock Of Gibraltar’s Big Rock Rallies For Prix La Force Triumph

Yeguada Centurion's 3-year-old colt Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}–Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who failed to nose ahead in each of his first three outings, graduated in a Feb. 2 handicap at Chantilly and repeated the dose back there in last month's Mar. 3 Listed Prix Maurice Caillault. Sent forward for a sterner test in Sunday's G3 Prix La Force at ParisLongchamp, he dented a host of lofty reputations with a game performance in the nine-furlong French Derby trial to register a career high. Big Rock was swiftly into stride from the inside stall and dictated proceedings on the front end for the most part. Scrubbed along when headed by 'TDN Rising Star' Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) passing the quarter-mile marker, the 19-5 chance rallied gamely to reclaim control approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly in the latter stages to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths. Ballydoyle raider Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) ran on with gusto inside the final quarter-mile to finish a head adrift of Padishakh at the line.

“It was our intention to take advantage of his inside draw,” revealed trainer Christopher Head. “We knew his ability on the all-weather, but there was a question mark about the turf. We didn't want to complicate matters, so making the running was the sensible option and he handled everything with aplomb. He has that ability to set a lively pace and still find an extra gear, which is what you expect from a good horse. Evidently, the [June 4 G1] Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly] is the target, but he is not a horse to remain two months without a race. As long as he is well, he will have one more run before the French Derby. Which one has not yet been decided and we will discuss his programme with the owner.”

Pedigree Notes:

Big Rock is the first foal of two foals produced by an unraced daughter of G3 Silver Flash S. victrix and G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Harasiya (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself a half-sister to five black-type performers headed by G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The February-foaled dark bay, half to a 2-year-old colt by Ten Sovereigns (Ire), is from the family of last term's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares victrix and G1 Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), MG1SW G1 Irish Derby hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares winner Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA FORCE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-9, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:49.63, g/s.
1–BIG ROCK (FR), 128, c, 3, by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
1st Dam: Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Harasiya (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Hazariya (Ire), by Xaar (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, €94,650. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Padishakh (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Penny Lane (Ger), by Lord Of England (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€130,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL & Ecurie de Montlahuc (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €16,000.
3–Greenland (Ire), 128, c, 3, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Aktoria (Fr), by Canford Cliffs (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (160,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 300,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-SCEA Marmion & Alain Jathiere (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €12,000.
Margins: 2HF, HD, 1HF. Odds: 3.80, 1.70, 11.00.
Also Ran: Rashford (Fr), Horizon Dore (Fr), Birr Castle (Fr), Zalamo (Fr), Duc De Kent (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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