Alexandroupois Centre Stage On Sunday

Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway in September won by the yard's Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) two years earlier.

Moore's Choice…

From the family of Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), staying is going to be Alexandroupolis's game and Ryan Moore places his confidence in him ahead of the unlucky Criterium Arqana runner-up Denmark (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Mohawk Chief (Quality Road), who captured the seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in October won by the stable's former talented Galileo duo Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) and Star Of India (Ire). Surprisingly, this renowned Derby trial has only supplied the Blue Riband winner once since 2002 and that was Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), not among the 11 Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to prevail which include subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire).

A Familiar Tale

O'Brien and Moore combine earlier on the card with another 'TDN Rising Star' in Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., which unlike the proceeding G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S. is light on overall quality. Ridden too forcefully when second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August, Hans Andersen again did too much early when fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. behind Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Given that he had beaten that peer in his maiden at the Currragh, more patient tactics might see him regain his spark in a weak-looking renewal of this recently-upgraded contest.

The Story Is Still Young…

If the 2000 Trial lacks strength-in-depth, that cannot be said of the following 1000 Guineas Trial which could have a bearing on the picture for the Newmarket Classic and again it is Ballydoyle who feature prominently with the G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing in mind the improvement her dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) found from two to three, it could be that she is still some way off a peak and it would be no surprise if she can make a leap as the 2005 winner Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) did from here to Newmarket. The stable also has the 10-length Naas maiden winner Dame Kiri (Justify), while opposition to Ballydoyle includes Martin Schwartz's highly-regarded Roscommon auction series race scorer Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and John Oxley's Naas maiden winner Madly Truly (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) from the always-to-be-respected Paddy Twomey and Joseph O'Brien stables, respectively.

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No Mistake For Pensee Du Jour In The Penelope

Saturday's G3 Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud looked a deep race for its type so early in the season, but Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd's TDN Rising Star Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}–Painter's Pride {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) tackled the third quick examination of her fledgling career with a degree of comfort to provide Andre Fabre with a 10th renewal of the 10 1/2-furlong Diane trial. In front from the outset but kept company by Ballydoyle's Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 2-5 favourite began to turn the screw from the top of the straight with Bauyrzhan Murzabayev intent on making it a true test. Soon beyond recall, the relative of Peintre Celebre who was only seen for the first time at Chantilly in February and who had been so dominant in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai here early this month maintained the gallop to the line to score by 2 1/2 lengths from the Andrew Balding-trained Sea Of Roses (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), with Ballydoyle's Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) 3/4 of a length away in third. “She is a very nice filly and she has not had too hard a race there–I think she can improve again,” Murzabayev commented of the winner.

 

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Camelot’s Pensee Du Jour Romps To Rose de Mai Triumph

Ballymore Thoroughbred Racing's undefeated 3-year-old filly Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}–Painter's Pride {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) delivered a spectacular winning debut last month, attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status with a four-length tally atop Chantilly's all-weather surface, and made a smooth transition into black-type company with an impressive pillar-to-post victory on the turf in Thursday's Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. The 1-2 favourite broke smartly and held sway throughout the 10-furlong contest. Unflustered and dominating into the straight, she was allowed an inch of rein soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and lengthened clear in effortless style in the latter stages to easily outclass toiling rivals by daylight. At the line, she was seven lengths too good for the overmatched Olkovskha (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), herself three lengths clear of Cracksmania (GB) (Cracksman {GB}).

“It was not the plan to make the running, but she has early speed and the idea was to travel handy,” explained rider Mickael Barzalona. “We found ourselves in front and she settled well and travelled smoothly. She is an easy ride, she does what you want and has a nice acceleration. You can feel that she still has a lot to learn, but what she has done so far is very good and most promising. She has all it takes to make a top filly and has a lot going for her, but still has a few steps to climb to get there.”

 

Pensee Du Jour is the latest of three reported foals, all winners, produced by an unraced daughter of GII Long Island H.-winning matriarch Peinture Bleue (Alydar). The January-foaled homebred bay–who boasts entries in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G1 Prix de Diane–is a half-sister to Group 3-winning G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen third Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal). Peinture Bleue, in turn, is responsible for a sextet of stakes performers, headed by MG1SW sire Peintre Celebre (Nureyev), G2 Prix de Pomone victrix Peinture Rare (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and G3 Prix de Barbeville winner Pointilliste (Giant's Causeway). Her many black-type descendants also include MG1SW dual South African champion Jet Dark (SAf) (Trippi).

Thursday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX ROSE DE MAI-Listed, €55,000, Saint-Cloud, 3-9, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:13.75, vsf.
1–PENSEE DU JOUR (IRE), 125, f, 3, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Painter's Pride (Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Peinture Bleue, by Alydar
3rd Dam: Petroleuse (Ire), by Habitat
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Ballymore Thoroughbred Racing; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €27,500. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €41,000. *1/2 to Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal), GSW & G1SP-UAE, $424,594.
2–Olkovskha (Fr), 125, f, 3, Zelzal (Fr)–Falcolina (Ire), by Falco. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€29,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT; €60,000 2yo '22 OSAMAY). O-Alain Jathiere & Solomon Kumin; B-Jacques Jean, Laurent Jean & Mme Marie-Therese Jean (FR); T-Christophe Ferland. €11,000.
3–Cracksmania (GB), 125, f, 3, Cracksman (GB)–Panthelia (Fr), by Gentlewave (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Guy Pariente Holding (GB); T-Philippe Sogorb. €8,250.
Margins: 7, 3, 2. Odds: 0.50, 26.00, 6.60.
Also Ran: Avolta (Ire), Akagera (Fr), A Minardiere (Fr), Khahira (Fr), Romina Power (Fr), Carvana (GB). Scratched: Elusive Princess (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Rising Star Pensee Du Jour Set For Black-Type Bow

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'.

15.00 Saint-Cloud, Listed, €55,000, 3yo, f, 10fT
Ballymore Thoroughbred Racing's 3-year-old filly PENSEE DU JOUR (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) made a spectacular winning debut at Chantilly last month, attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status with a geared-down four-length tally over 9 1/2 furlongs, and she takes the step up in class and trip for this turf bow. The January-foaled bay is one of 10 nominated for Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Rose de Mai over 10 furlongs and her rivals include undefeated winners-of-one Cracksmania (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) and Akagera (Fr) (Prince Gibraltar {Fr}).

 

16.10 Saint-Cloud, Listed, €52,000, 4yo/up, 8fT
Al Asayl France's homebred 2020 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero THE REVENANT (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns to action for Francis Graffard and encounters seven hardened rivals coming back off an Oct. 15 seventh over this trip when making his fourth start in the Ascot benchmark last time. The 8-year-old gelding lines up for a third go at Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Altipan and has saluted five times in seven starts over the one-mile strip here, including two Group 3s and the 2019 and 2022 editions of this fixture.

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