Frankel’s Onesto Swoops In The Grand Prix De Paris

Unleashing his deadly acceleration to maximum effect at a ParisLongchamp blessed by evening sun, TDN Rising Star Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) stormed into the big time in Thursday's G1 Grand Prix de Paris. This type of performance had looked on the cards after his scintillating win in the 10 1/2-furlong G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud May 8 and highly commendable effort from a horror draw when dead-heating for fifth in the Prix du Jockey-Club and the Fabrice Chappet-trained chestnut was duly made the 10-3 favourite. Anchored last early by Stephane Pasquier having run freely to post, the first group 1 winner for his breeder Diamond Creek Farm who sported the colours of Gerard Augustin-Normand for the first time proved perfectly tractable in the race and saved energy tracking the other five. Producing the burst once straightened for home that is already his trademark over a 12-furlong trip that was certain to play to his strengths, he produced a 11.09 penultimate sectional to overhaul the long-time leader Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) a furlong from home. That rallying rival kept the winning margin to a neck only, with the Prix du Jockey-Club runner-up El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) adding context 2 1/2 lengths back in third.

 

Since the move of the Prix du Jockey-Club to 10 1/2 furlongs, the draw has become vital with the last winner to have come from a double-figure stall being one of the Chantilly Classic's better ones in the talented New Bay (GB) in 2015. Onesto had fared reasonably well in the original draw in nine, but after the well-documented error he was re-posted to 14 and lost all chance at the start. Still able to get within a respectable distance of the impressive winner Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), he emerged from the race as one of a few who could be upgraded significantly. This trip looked truly up his street, hailing from the family of Juddmonte's great blue hen Hasili (Ire) by the stamina influence Frankel, whose 25th group 1 winner he duly became. He was also able to mark the win with the added bonus of supplying Sea The Stars (Ire) with his first group 1 winner as a broodmare sire. It capped a memorable week for the breeders, who had supplied the Fasig-Tipton July Sale-topping Curlin colt.

“He can be slightly too keen and Stephane did well to rate him,” Chappet said. “In the race, he was slightly too cold but when he made his move between horses two out he was right there to produce his turn of foot. In fact it turned out to be the perfect race for him. He ran a great race in the Prix du Jockey Club, but he was out if it turning for home because of his bad draw. You can have regrets because there is only one Derby in the life of a horse, but take nothing away from the winner–I am not saying we would have won.”

Onesto's winning debut over a mile at Chantilly in September had enough x-factor to earn TDN Rising Star status, containing the colt Vagalame (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who would come to share fifth place with him when they re-engaged in the Jockey Club. Finding only Welwal (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) too strong on his other juvenile start in a 7 1/2-furlong conditions event on Deauville's Polytrack in October, he was again behind that rival when eighth as Vadeni was fifth in this track's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau at a mile Apr. 17. It was only when he got to the Greffulhe that he hit his stride and Chappet has the big one back over this course and distance in mind now. “He's got plenty of speed, he can win 10-furlong races and he won a mile maiden but now the future is to target the Arc and we will go with some ambition,” he added. “This was a good trial, wasn't it? He will first go for the [G2] Prix Niel.”

Of Simca Mille, trainer Stephane Wattel said, “He ran a huge race and it was a great performance, so we have to be proud and he doesn't stop improving. We will see how he comes out of it–the [G2] Grand Prix de Deauville at home could be a possibility.”

Onesto is the second of five foals and first runner out of the unraced Onshore (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was purchased by the aforementioned Diamond Creek Farm for 320,000gns at the 2016 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She is a half-sister to the G3 Easter Cup winner Jet Away (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), while their dam is another who failed to get to the track in Kalima (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}).

Kalima's full-sibling Hasili needs no introduction as Juddmonte's legendary broodmare and there was already proof that Frankel works well in this dynasty. So far, he is responsible for the G1 Metropolitan winner Mirage Dancer (GB), a son of Hasili's GI Matriarch S.-winning Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert), the G2 Prix de Sandringham scorer Obligate (GB) and useful stayer Weekender (GB) who boast Hasili as a second dam. Kalima's half-sister Skiable (Ire) (Niniski) is the second dam of Frankel's G1 Fillies' Mile heroine and 1000 Guineas-placed Quadrilateral (GB). The dam's 2-year-old filly is by Australia (GB), she has a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire) and a filly foal by American Pharoah.

Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France
GRAND PRIX DE PARIS-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 7-14, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:27.76, g/s.
1–ONESTO (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Onshore (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Kalima (GB), by Kahyasi (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Kerali (GB), by High Line (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (185,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; $535,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand, Jean-Etienne Dubois, Ecurie Hunter Valley, Haras D'Etreham, Ecurie Billon, Ecurie Elag, Fabrice Chappet & Hubert Guy; B-Diamond Creek Farm LLC (IRE); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Stephane Pasquier. €342,840. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, €458,350. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Simca Mille (Ire), 129, c, 3, Tamayuz (GB)–Swertia (GB), by Pivotal (GB).
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€68,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Haras de la Perelle & Stephane Wattel; B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Stephane Wattel. €137,160.
3–El Bodegon (Ire), 129, c, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Al Andalyya, by Kingmambo. (70,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Nas Syndicate & A F O'Callaghan; B-Cecil & Martin McCracken (IRE); T-James Ferguson. €68,580.
Margins: NK, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.30, 5.10, 3.90.
Also Ran: Eldar Eldarov (GB), L'Astronome (GB), Piz Badile (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Six Set For Grand Prix Test

Thursday's G1 Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp has attracted a tight field of six, with Flaxman Stables' supplemented Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) bringing the G1 Irish Derby form into play in what should prove one of the key pointers to the course-and-distance Arc. His G2 Prix Hocquart-winning relative L'Astronome (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is in the line-up for Al Asayl France and Francis-Henri Graffard, while KHK Racing's June 15 G2 Queen's Vase winner Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Nas Syndicate and the O'Callaghans' G1 Prix du Jockey-Club runner-up El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) make up the British contingent. 'TDN Rising Star' Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Haras De La Perelle and Stephane Wattel's G3 Prix du Lys scorer Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) complete the line-up in a thriller for the Fete Nationale Francaise.

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Group 1 Winner El Bodegon Targets The Grand Prix de Paris

Juvenile Group 1 winner El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) will travel to France and contest the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris according to trainer James Ferguson. A winner of the G3 Prix de Conde in September, the Nas Syndicate and A O'Callaghan-owned colt stepped up to 10 furlongs in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and won by 1 1/2 lengths a month later. Unplaced in his 3-year-old bow, the G2 Dante S. at York on May 12, the bay bounced back to be a distant second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on June 5.

“He's in really good order and has come out of the [Prix du Jockey Club] well,” said the trainer. “We're very happy with him at home and we're looking to go back to France for the Grand Prix de Paris.

“Some of the horses that we were potentially trying to avoid have either run in the [G1] Irish Derby or are going to the [G1] King George or the [G1] Eclipse. Hopefully that leaves the option open for us to compete where we have been strongest with this horse [France] and where we probably have the best chance of getting a bit of rain, which I think is probably the most important factor of all.”

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Churchill’s Vadeni Swoops In The Jockey Club

One hundred years on from the late Aga Khan III's initial foray into European racing, the internationally-renowned and respected operation were celebrating a momentous Classic victory as the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}–Vaderana {Fr}, by Monsun {Ger}) dominated Chantilly's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. Always travelling easily in the slipstream of the leaders from his favourable inside draw, the May 10 G3 Prix de Guiche winner pounced on the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with 300 metres remaining and a furlong later Christophe Soumillon was already saluting the crowd with the race in safe keeping. At the line, there was a five-length margin back to El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the only runner with a lower stall than the winner in one, with the wide-drawn Modern Games an honourable third a short neck behind. The Aga Khan IV now has eight Prix du Jockey Club successes, with this being only the second since the distance was shortened in 2005.

“I am delighted to win for His Highness, as it has been a few years since we made it at the highest level and these prestigious races are so important for his breeding operation,” Soumillon said after steering his fourth winner of the 10 1/2-furlong Classic. “I feel sorry that he and Princess Zahra could not make it to the races today and my first thoughts were for them–I owe them so much and they have been so important in my career. The key to the race this year was to have a good draw and we had the perfect trip. My horse was travelling so easily and when I asked him he was impressive. His preparation had been perfectly planned by Jean-Claude Rouget and today he was at the top of his game.”

Introduced over seven furlongs at La Teste de Buch in July, Vadeni dealt with the eventual Listed Prix Montenica winner Loubeisien (Fr) before heading to Deauville in August to capture the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage over a mile in which the subsequent group 1 performer Times Square (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) was third. Only third when over-racing as the 2-5 favourite behind El Bodegon in the nine-furlong G3 Prix de Conde on his final juvenile start, the bay returned with a staying-on fifth in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau at a mile at ParisLongchamp Apr. 17 before it all slotted into place in the Prix de Guiche back here last time.

After the earlier G3 Prix de Royaumont win of the Stud's Baiykara (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), there was a feeling in the air that this meeting would form some sort of crowning moment for the breeding operation which has its roots in Aga Khan III's 1922 Queen Mary S. success. Even the draw had been kind, twice, with Vadeni faring well the first time the balls were pulled out of the bowl and better at the second attempt. As is often the case in this race, it became a race of the haves and the have-nots in that respect with Soumillon able to cruise and draft with minimal effort and William Buick's hand forced by stall 13. He had to use up fuel on Modern Games to get the 21-10 favourite into the front line, but he made the right call as after the opening two furlongs, the eventual first, second and third were occupying three of the front five positions. TDN Rising Stars Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Lassaut (Fr) (Almanzor {Ire}) and the similarly well-fancied Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) were far adrift as the trailing trio at that stage and the die was already cast for them.

Soon into the straight it was clear that those in the rearguard had little chance of getting to the leaders and one glance at the emerald green was enough to predict the outcome. Hard as Modern Games tried, he was losing steam on the rain-softened ground and while his compatriot El Bodegon was wearing him down, by the time they had grafted to a furlong and a half out the race had already slipped out of their grip. It is rare that a jockey is able to begin celebrations so far from the line and only time will tell how Vadeni ranks alongside Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), but the fact is that France has a new star and that can only be a good thing where the diversity of the racing game is concerned.

For Rouget, the performance was a clear peak of his grand total of five.”He is the easiest of my Jockey Club winners–he's very good,” he said. I will probably give him a break now and I'll speak to the owner and see what he wants to do. If he wants to go for the Arc, I would suggest running him in the Irish Champion Stakes first and if not, he could still come back in the Irish Champion and head to the Champion Stakes at Ascot as Almanzor did.”

Charlie Appleby is looking to the States now for Modern Games. “I think in the end he didn't quite see out the trip,” he said. “The winner was quite impressive and you could spot him from a long way out. I think on faster ground Modern Games can stay nine or ten and the Belmont Derby or Saratoga Derby are options for him now in America.” James Ferguson said of El Bodegon, “It's so great to see him back on track and I've never been so happy to be second–the winner is a fantastic horse and all credit to him. My horse has beaten everyone else. He wears his heart on his sleeve and tried all the way to the line.”

Vadeni is from the first crop of Churchill {Ire}) and becomes his first Classic and group 1 winner, while he was also giving Monsun his 16th success at this level as a damsire. The dam Vaderana, whose previous five foals include the multiple listed-placed Vadsena (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) and the Australian listed-placed Vadiyann (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), is a daughter of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain) who produced five black-type performers headed by the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Vadamar (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and the G3 Tyros S. winner and G1 Racing Post Trophy third The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Vadawina is kin to the fellow Saint-Alary heroine Vazira (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the stakes-producing, dual group 3 winner Vadapolina (Fr) (Trempolino), while their dam Vadaza (Fr) (Zafonic) is in turn a half-sister to the G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino) and the listed-winning Celebre Vadala (Fr) (Peintre Celebre) who threw the G1 Prix du Moulin-winning sire Vadamos (Fr) from a mating with Monsun. Also connected to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Val Royal (Fr) (Royal Academy), Vaderana has the unraced 2-year-old colt by Camelot (GB) named Vazirpour (GB).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
QATAR PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB-G1, €1,500,000, Chantilly, 6-5, 3yo, c/f, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.65, sf.
1–VADENI (FR), 128, c, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Vaderana (Fr), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Vadawina (Ire), by Unfuwain
3rd Dam: Vadaza (Fr), by Zafonic
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Christophe Soumillon. €857,100. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1, €987,100. *1/2 to Vadsena (Fr) (Makfi {GB}), MSP-Fr; and Vadiyann (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), SP-Aus, $140,637. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–El Bodegon (Ire), 128, c, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Al Andalyya, by Kingmambo. (70,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Nas Syndicate & A F O'Callaghan; B-Cecil & Martin McCracken (IRE); T-James Ferguson. €342,900.
3–Modern Games (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €171,450.
Margins: 5, SNK, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.80, 14.00, 2.10.
Also Ran: Al Hakeem (GB), *Onesto (Ire), *Vagalame (Ire), Machete (Fr), Lassaut (Fr), Ancient Rome, Welwal (GB), Mister Saint Paul (Fr), Ivy League (Ire), Imperial Fighter (Ire), The Acropolis (Ire), Yoozuna (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
*Dead-heated for fifth.

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