Tag: Frankel (GB)

Frankel’s Alpinista Takes The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud

Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was making her comeback in Sunday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, but there was no sign of rustiness as she overwhelmed a deep field for a fourth consecutive top-level victory. Now unbeaten in her last six starts including the G2 Lancashire Oaks, G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin, G1 Preis Von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern, the Sir Mark Prescott-trained grey was held up early travelling notably strongly for Luke Morris in rear of mid-division. Unleashed wide at the top of the straight, the 8-1 shot rolled by the progressive Fabre trainee Baratti (GB) (Frankel {GB}) a furlong from home en route to a 1 1/4-length success, with Bubble Gift (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) a neck away in third. There are worrying signs for connections of the 4-5 favourite Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), as he weakened in early straight and beat only one rival.

“She's taken a long time to come to hand this year, which is why she missed the Coronation Cup and I feel she's only just starting to come now, so I hope she can improve for the run and I think all roads will lead to the Arc,” Morris said. “We usually ride her very handy, but there looked to be a lot of pace in the race so on her first run of the year we said we'd take a chance and drop her in a bit more and see how she went. The gap came lovely and she produced a very good turn of foot. She beat Torquator Tasso last year and it was the decision between going to Germany for what looked a very easy group one or going for the Arc and we chose the easy option–this year we may aim a bit higher.”

Alpinista is arguably the best that Prescott has trained since her dual G1 Champion S.-winning relative Alborada (GB) (Alzao), but she has taken time to reach full maturity and fulfil her potential. Since registering her first black-type win in Salisbury's Listed Upavon Fillies' S. in August 2020, the only rivals to have taken her measure have been Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks shortly after and Antonia De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Princess Royal S. at Newmarket the following month. “It was a faultless performance wasn't it really? She wouldn't come in her coat in the Spring and wasn't at a stage where she could run,” her trainer said. “She's just come right now and to be honest I thought the race might come 10 days too soon for her, but it's worked out very well. You would hope she could improve a tiny bit more.”

“We'll see what Miss Rausing feels, but I would think one run before the Arc, probably, and conventionally you'd go for the Prix Vermeille–that would be the obvious race,” Prescott added. “I don't see any reason to be a clever Dick, I think you just go with the obvious and hope she's good enough to do it.” Juddmonte's Barry Mahon said of Baratti, “He has run a great race. Andre Fabre has always said he is a good horse and he has had a few setbacks, including one before the Hardwicke but we now have a good horse for the second half of the season.”

Alpinista is the first foal out of the listed scorer Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), who is one of four black-type winners out of the family's initial triple German group 1 winner Albanova (GB) (Alzao). The others are the group 3 scorer Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), the listed scorer and group 3-placed Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the triple French listed winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who is in turn the dam of this year's G2 Queen's Vase winner Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The third dam is the Listed Oyster S. winner Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), producer of the aforementioned Alborada who is kin to the G3 Doncaster Cup winner Alleluia (GB) (Caerleon) who in turn produced the G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Alouette is also a half to the G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) by Albanova and Alborada's sire Alzao, who boasts the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulians-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill) among her progeny list. Also related to last year's G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Alwilda has the dual-winning 3-year-old filly Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) and a filly foal by Iffraaj {GB).

Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €400,000, Saint-Cloud, 7-3, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:26.15, g/s.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 125, m, 5, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
     2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
     3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €228,560. Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Mare-Eng at 11-14f, Ch. Older Mare-Ger at 11-14f, MG1SW-Ger, GSW & G1SP-Eng, 13-8-2-0, €709,197. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Baratti (GB), 128, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Binche, by Woodman.
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €91,440.
3–Bubble Gift (Fr), 126, c, 4, Nathaniel (Ire)–Bubble Back (Fr), by Grand Lodge.
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Zak Bloodstock; B-A Hakam (FR); T-Mikel Delzangles. €45,720.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 3. Odds: 7.90, 10.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Sweet Lady (Fr), Lone Eagle (Ire), High Definition (Ire), Mare Australis (Ire), Hurricane Lane (Ire), Third Realm (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Son Of Sophie P Debuts At Sandown

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. Friday's Observations features a son of Grade I winner Sophie P (GB) (Bushranger {Ire}).

2.55 Sandown, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT
THE PARENT (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a son of the GI Gamely S. heroine Sophie P (GB) (Bushranger {Ire}) who makes his debut for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and the Richard Hannon stable in an intriguing contest. A 280,000gns Book 1 purchase, the February-foaled bay encounters Amo Racing and Omnihorse Racing's similarly-unraced Omniking (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a David Loughnane-trained 300,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up graduate who is a son of the G1 Prix Ganay third Fate (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}) related to the champion Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre); and Jeff Smith's Newbury third Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a full-brother to the G1 Juddmonte International heroine Arabian Queen (Ire) who represents the Andrew Balding stable.

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Frankel’s Westover Dominates The Irish Derby

Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby had been teed up as a match between Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but in the ultimate assessment it was really a matter of no contest as Ralph Beckett's powerhouse colt overwhelmed all assembled for the Curragh Classic. Always travelling in a beautiful rhythm for Colin Keane granted a perfect lead by French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), the 11-8 joint-favourite took control at the top of the straight and had already stretched into an unassailable lead by the furlong pole. All alone in the open space of the iconic Kildare venue thereafter, the Juddmonte homebred remained unperturbed as he drew out a seven-length winning margin to Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}), with French Claim holding on for third a further two lengths behind. Tuesday managed fourth, but was never in it. “It was very straightforward and I have to say a big thankyou to Rob Hornby, who told me about the horse this morning,” Keane said. “He told me to just keep a lid on him going down and to keep it simple, as he gets the trip very well and will get further. He said not to be scared to make plenty of use of him turning in, as he would get to the line very well. To me, it felt like a piece of work with one horse in front of me.”

Westover may have been in the wake of Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Epsom, but his abundant progress from a narrow G3 Sandown Classic Trial success was there for all to see and his run through the race was the main talking point away from the impression made by the winner. Handed one of the worst draws possible for the mile-and-a-half Derby start, the imposing bay emerged from that disadvantage to put up a barnstorming effort which was profoundly disturbed by the well-documented trouble he met just as the Stoute colt was passing by and out of reach. A work-in-progress as a juvenile, his one attempt at black-type proved unsuccessful when second in deep ground in Pontefract's Listed Silver Tankard S. but it did show how relentless he is when he gets rolling.

This performance was the culmination of all that learning process and it is rare that a Classic of this stature could be predicted with such authority such a long way out. While Ryan Moore was too far behind to ever enter into a battle, there was little that could be done once Keane had taken up the position behind the race's surprise package French Claim. Watching the Juddmonte silks virtually motionless turning for home, it was clear that the writing was already on the wall and the rest of the straight was just an avenue for an exhibition of galloping to compare with the likes of Old Vic (GB), St Jovite, Zagreb, Montjeu (Ire), Sinndar (Ire), Galileo (Ire) and Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling).

For Ralph Beckett, the win was a landmark one in his career training for the mighty breeding operation. “It is a hugely important moment for us–I can tell you where I was when I heard that Juddmonte were going to send us a draft and it's an honour and a joy to train for them,” he said. “It's a big day for us. This track suits him and it's wonderful to get it done. It was an effort we weren't expecting, so we are delighted. Everything had gone to plan–he had travelled over and settled in really well and it felt like we had got all our ducks in a row coming here and so it proved.”

“I was delighted with him at Epsom–it wasn't his or anybody's fault that he ran into traffic, but to do this today in the manner he did was very impressive. His brother [Fabilis] was exactly the same–he got better with racing and this horse will too. He has a great temperament and that shone through today. He's going to develop from three to four, never mind through the rest of the year, you would think. I'll have to discuss his next run with the family, but it's a good discussion to have. The King George is the obvious race for him, it's just whether we think it's the right thing for him at the time. The great thing is he's not ground-dependant–he'll handle slow ground as well. He's just very uncomplicated.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Tuesday, “It was a funny race and Ryan said she never got into it. The first, second and third sat there and noone made up any ground. I wouldn't take anything away from the first, second or third and the winner was very impressive, but we think she's better than that. We tried and competed and it didn't work today.”

Juddmonte Farms UK General Manager Simon Mockridge told Great British Racing International, “It was a scintillating performance by Westover, super impressive, and I know that Prince Khalid's family are ecstatic to have their first Classic win since he passed away early last year.

“Westover is from an amazing family which goes back to our [G1] Prix de Diane winner, Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat), and is testament to Prince Khalid's 34 years of breeding expertise. The pedigree tells us that he should have an awful lot of speed, so don't be surprised if he comes back in distance–he looked like he could have won easily if today's race had been over 10 furlongs.

“Although we were very happy for him to finish in the first three at Epsom, when you watch the race back and see the job Rob Hornby had to do to extricate him, he did finish remarkably strongly. Even so, no one could have expected him to win in the style that he has today.

“He was a very big foal, weighing 154 pounds, so Ralph [Beckett] did an incredible job to get him to race as often as he did last year. Sadly, we lost his mother, Mirabilis, last year at the age of 19 because of a nasty foot problem, but she had one more foal, an Expert Eye (GB) now 2-year-old filly called Jalapa (GB), who is with Ralph but has yet to see a racecourse.”

Westover is the 10th foal out of Mirabilis (Lear Fan), who captured the GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and was placed in the G1 Prix de la Foret, GII Jenny Wiley S. and GII Buena Vista H. He is a full-brother to the talented but mercurial Monarchs Glen (GB), who showed his class when registering wins in the G3 Darley Club S., Listed Wolferton S. and Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial S. The second dam is the GII Buena Vista H. scorer Media Nox (GB) (Lycius), who produced the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp heroine Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat), while the family also features the G2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer Burning Sun (Danzig) and group and graded-stakes winners Mallory (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) and Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy). Also connected to the G3 Earl of Sefton S.-winning sire Phoenix Tower (Chester House), Mirabilis's 2-year-old filly Jalapa (GB) is by Expert Eye (GB).

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY-G1, €1,000,000, The Curragh, 6-25, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:34.80, gd.
1–WESTOVER (GB), 128, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Mirabilis (GSW-US, SW & G1SP-Fr, $275,664), by Lear Fan
     2nd Dam: Media Nox (GB), by Lycius
     3rd Dam: Sky Love, by Nijinsky II
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Colin Keane. €580,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 6-3-2-1, $915,150. *Full to Monarchs Glen (GB), GSW-Eng, SW & GSP-US, $464,026. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Piz Badile (Ire), 128, c, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–That Which Is Not, by Elusive Quality.
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €200,000.
3–French Claim (Fr), 128, c, 3, French Fifteen (Fr)–Zahrada, by Galileo (Ire).
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€9,000 Ylg '20 ARQAU; £36,000 2yo '21 TATGOR). O-Teme Valley Racing; B-Mathieu Daguzan-Garros & Jean-Claude Gour (FR); T-Paddy Twomey. €100,000.
Margins: 7, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.38, 18.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Tuesday (Ire), Glory Daze (Ire), Boundless Ocean (Ire), Hannibal Barca (Ire), Lionel (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Eight Declared For Saturday’s G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby

Overnight contenders for Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish were reduced by half, leaving eight declared for the Curragh's €1,000,000 12-furlong Classic. Aidan O'Brien took the most drastic measures and reduced his team of six to just one with G1 Cazoo Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to depart from stall one in her bid to become the first filly to prevail since Balanchine (Storm Bird) in 1994. Her chief rival, Juddmonte's G1 Cazoo Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), has drawn stall five.

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