Kodiac Colt Takes The Djebel

Helped by the stands rail which is always a boon on the straight track at Deauville, Hisaaki Saito's Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) sprang a minor upset in Thursday's G3 Prix Djebel. Trying seven furlongs for the first time, having last been seen finishing third in the Listed Prix Zeddaan here in October, the Fabrice Chappet-trained bay followed the early leader Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) with Stephane Pasquier holding back for the inevitable sprint. Finding an ideal seam up the fence as TDN Rising Star Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) challenged out wide, the 9-1 shot forged ahead inside the last 50 metres to score by half a length, with Belbek eventually a length away in third.

Successful on his first two starts over sprint trips at Chantilly in the summer, Good Guess had also been ninth when Belbek was fifth behind The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G3 Prix de Cabourg here in August. The next furlong of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains may be beyond him, but Chappet is happy that it is within his compass. “It all went wrong in the Prix de Cabourg,” he said. “After a good break, he ran a good race in the Prix Zeddaan but that was over six which was too short and reflecting on that I think it was a mistake to run him that short again. He had a nice trip today and quickened well–very importantly, he proved that he should have no trouble staying a mile and his intended next start is in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.”

Alessandro Botti is also eyeing the ParisLongchamp Classic with Breizh Sky. “I am slightly disappointed as I think we could have won this race, we beat the favourite but the lack of pace hurt us,” he said. “Anyway, he will be a group winner one day–he had improved a lot mentally from last year and he will come on for the run. We lost just a battle and we will be back in the Poule d'Essai.”

Pedigree Notes
Good Guess, who was a 420,000gns purchase from the Cheveley Park Stud draft by Chauvigny Global Equine at the 2021 Book 1 Sale, is a half-brother to the operation's smart Spangled (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) who captured the seven-furlong G3 Sceptre S. and to the listed-placed sprinter Jumira Bridge (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). He is currently the last known foal out of the dam Zykina (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a daughter of the brilliant Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo).

Heroine of the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S., G1 Nassau S. and G1 Lockinge S. and arguably the best to have raced in the red, white and blue of the Thompsons, Russian Rhythm's sole black-type performer was Pivotal's listed-placed Safina (GB), who is in turn responsible for last year's G3 Atalanta S. scorer Potapova (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Marenko (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). This family of Cape Cross (Ire) also includes the group winners Zonderland (GB) and Positive (GB) by Dutch Art (GB) and Pivotal's Bashkirova (GB) who took last year's G3 Princess Elizabeth S.

Thursday, Deauville, France
PRIX DJEBEL-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 4-6, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:29.20, sf.
1–GOOD GUESS (GB), 128, c, 3, by Kodiac (GB)
     1st Dam: Zykina (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
     2nd Dam: Russian Rhythm, by Kingmambo
     3rd Dam: Balistroika, by Nijinsky
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (420,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Hisaaki Saito; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Stephane Pasquier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, €79,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Breizh Sky (Fr), 128 c, 3, Pedro The Great–Anna Danse (Fr), by Anabaa. (€14,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Alain Jathiere, Louis Baudron, Alessandro Botti, Giuseppe Botti & Ecurie Elag; B-Haras des Evees, Daniel Cherdo & Mme Claudie Cherdo (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti. €16,000.
3–Belbek (Fr), 128, c, 3, Showcasing (GB)–Bee Queen (GB), by Makfi (GB). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000.
Margins: HF, 1, NK. Odds: 9.70, 2.60, Evens.
Also Ran: Kubrick (Ire), Duc De Morny (GB). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Classic Clues At Deauville

Against the backdrop of the news that Maisons-Laffitte could be on the way back, it is up to Deauville to continue to stage the two key seven-furlong trials that used to be the preserve of that Parisian venue and help light the way to the upcoming mile Classics on Thursday. In the G3 Prix Djebel, the colts who could be either 2000 Guineas or Poule d'Essai des Poulains-bound include the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) with Andre Fabre set to weigh up the correct target. Also successful over six furlongs in Chantilly's G3 Prix du Bois in June, Nurlan Bizakov's homebred would be one of the faster types taking part in either Classic but he does have Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in his pedigree.

 

Has He Reached His Limit?

Third and beaten two necks in the Lagardere, TDN Rising Star Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) is back for another tilt at Belbek and add to his prior black-type win in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over this trip on the round course here in July. Whether he can build on a solid juvenile campaign and progress at three or whether he has already hit his ceiling is the question and both he and White Birch Farm's G3 Prix des Chenes-winning homebred Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) have to put unplaced efforts behind them in Saint-Cloud's G1 Criterium International.

 

An Imprudence To Savour…

Seventy minutes after the Djebel, the likely 1000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches protagonists get their opportunity to shine in a numerically stronger prep which is probably also deeper in terms of competition and quality. Despite there being a total of seven listed or group winners in the line-up headed by Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's Wed (Fr) (Profitable {Ire}), who captured the G2 Prix du Calvados over this course and distance in August, the presence of Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Beginnings (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and Godolphin's Polytrack course winner Quickstep (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) make it a fascinating affair. Also in the mix is Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois's impressive Chantilly conditions scorer Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), whose dam is a half to Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger})

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First Blood Fabre On Arc Day As Showcasing’s Belbek Strikes

Andre Fabre had only outsiders in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but Sunday's ParisLongchamp fixture's opener was a reminder that the general is still very much in the thick of it as Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) captured the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Upstaged twice since his success in Chantilly's G3 Prix du Bois June 19 when fourth behind Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) in that track's G2 Prix Robert Papin July 17 and when fifth to this race's absentee The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville Aug. 2, Nurlan Bizakov's homebred was 18-1 as a result in this “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland next month.

Those odds would have been fitting for any other colt with his race record in this kind of test, but pure logic dictates that where the master of Chantilly is concerned this was a serious miss by the pari-mutuel faithful. Handed the perfect draft behind the leading trio, the bay had over a length to make up on Gamestop (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) as that rival looked to have stolen a march approaching the final furlong but Mickael Barzalona had ultimately timed it right with Belbek produced to shade it inside the final 50 metres. At the line, there was a neck between him and the Wertheimers' fellow outsider, with TDN Rising Star Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) the same margin behind in third.

“We always thought he had a lot of ability, but he failed to settle in his last two races and was helped by the ground and the faster pace here. He might go to Doncaster for the Futurity Trophy maybe,” Fabre said after greeting his sixth winner of this prize which was formerly run as the Grand Criterium.

Nurlan Bizakov added, “This victory means a lot, because it is our first Group 1 success with the first colt that we have bred in France, a country that is doing well for us.”

Christophe Ferland said of Gamestop, “He was relaxed today–I think the hood helped him to get into his stride he had a good draw this time unlike last time.”

Breizh Sky posted the fastest sectional in the race as he chased from the two to the one and trainer Alessandro Botti said, “He found himself stuck behind the wrong horses and Christophe Soumillon didn't want to come all the way outside, which was the right choice. In spite of everything, the colt ran an excellent race and finished at full speed. We knew that the soft ground would not bother him and I hope he has more room for improvement next year. If he's good, we could make the trip to the Breeders' Cup over a mile.”

Pedigree Notes

Belbek, who is a flagbearer for Nurlan Bizakov's burgeoning Sumbe operation, was providing a further boost to the form of Blackbeard, if any was needed. This did little to alter the juvenile pecking order, with Blackbeard very much in the shade of Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) at Rosegreen. Belbek has room for progression over further than this seven-furlong trip, being out of a mare with middle-distance connections in Bee Queen (GB) (Makfi). Bought out of Juddmonte's draft in the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale for just 50,000gns, she is a daughter of Trojan Queen (Empire Maker) which makes her a half-sister to the G3 Hampton Court S. winner Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and to the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial-placed Emergent (GB) Showcasing's sire Oasis Dream (GB).

The third dam is Fabre's triple top-level-winning champion and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), who produced the G1 Prix Prix Jean Romanet winner Romantica (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the dual listed scorer and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Ideal World (Kingmambo). That makes the fourth dam the outstanding producer Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), whose clutch of top-class progeny includes the GI Beverly D. S. winner Heat Haze (GB) by Oasis Dream's sire Green Desert. She went on to produce the strong-staying G1 Metropolitan hero Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Forge (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was second in two renewals of the GII Bernard Baruch H. and third in the GI Maker's 46 Mile S. Bee Queen's yearling colt is by Gleneagles (Ire).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE (GRAND CRITERIUM) – SPONSORISE PAR MANATEQ-G1, €400,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-2, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:22.98, vsf.
1–BELBEK (FR), 126, c, 2, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Bee Queen (GB), by Makfi (GB)
2nd Dam: Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker
3rd Dam: Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €228,560. Lifetime Record: 6-3-0-0, €298,660. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gamestop (Ire), 126, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Your Game (Fr), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Christophe Ferland. €91,440.
3–Breizh Sky (Fr), 126 c, 2, Pedro The Great–Anna Danse (Fr), by Anabaa. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. (€14,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Alain Jathiere, Louis Baudron, Alessandro Botti, Giuseppe Botti & Ecurie Elag; B-Haras des Evees, Daniel Cherdo & Mme Claudie Cherdo (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti. €45,720.
Margins: NK, NK, 2. Odds: 17.70, 12.00, 3.80.
Also Ran: Shartash (Ire), Vicious Harry (Fr), Tigrais (Fr), Pivotal Trigger (GB). Scratched: The Antarctic (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

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Breizh Sky Targetting Arc Weekend Following Deauville Triumph

Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti trainee Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great–Anna Danse {Fr}, by Anabaa) announced his arrival with a breathtaking 'TDN Rising Star' display, winning by 5 1/2 lengths, contesting a six-furlong newcomers' heat at Saint-Cloud in his May 17 debut last time and lined up in the colours of Alain Jathiere for this black-type debut. Swiftly into stride and leading throughout this one-turn test, he was stoked up in early straight and, despite racing greenly and rolling around on the front, fended off all challenges under urging inside the final quarter mile to narrowly hold the late thrust of Terrestrial (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) for a career high.

“I was extremely concerned by the way he was hanging left so badly and it seemed impossible for Christophe [Soumillon] to keep him on a straight line,” explained Alessandro Botti after stewards allowed the result to stand. “We will have an inquest at home and see what's to be done to rectify that tendency. I feel that the stewards made the right decision and we are, of course, delighted with the win. He had shown great quality on debut we had already decided, beforehand, that we would not to run him again this summer and wait for the autumn. He will go to a race like the [G3] Prix La Rochette as a prep for the [G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere.”

Breizh Sky is the latest of six foals and one of four scorers from as many runners produced by a daughter of Danse Quatz (Fr) (Johann Quatz {Fr}), herself a multiple-winning half-sister to G3 Prix Gladiateur victor and G1 Prix du Cadran runner-up Varevees (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}). Danse Quatz is a daughter of Danse Bretonne (Fr) (Exit To Nowhere), herself the second dam of Listed Prix Maurice Caillault victor Speedo Boy (Fr) (Vision d'Etat {Fr}) and this year's Listed Henkel Stutenpreis victrix Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}). Danse Bretonne is kin to G3 Prix Edmond Blanc and G3 Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord victor and G1 Man O' War S. runner-up and Kaldounevees (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}).

Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX ROLAND DE CHAMBURE-Listed, €60,000, Deauville, 7-10, 2yo, 7fT, 1:25.28, g/s.
1–BREIZH SKY (FR), 126 c, 2, by Pedro The Great
1st Dam: Anna Danse (Fr), by Anabaa
2nd Dam: Danse Quatz (Fr), by Johann Quatz (Fr)
3rd Dam: Danse Bretonne (Fr), by Exit To Nowhere
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€14,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Alain Jathiere, Louis Baudron, Alessandro Botti, Giuseppe Botti & Ecurie Elag; B-Haras des Evees, Daniel Cherdo & Mme Claudie Cherdo (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti; J-Christophe Soumillon. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €43,500.
2–Terrestrial (Ire), 122, f, 2, Kingman (GB)–Snakeless, by Animal Kingdom. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Pascal Bary. €12,000.
3–Neversay (Fr), 126, c, 2, No Nay Never–Foreign Tune (GB), by Invincible Spirit (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Freddy Head. €9,000.
Margins: SHD, 2HF, NK. Odds: 3.70, 9.00, 1.40.
Also Ran: Sydneyarms Chelsea (Ire), Cosmic Invasion (Ire), Fille du Roi (Fr), Grecian Star (Ire), Vasda (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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