“We are very happy and the big question was the ground, because he has never run on that kind of surface,” the owner-breeders' racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau said of the gelding, who had warmed up for this by winning the track's G2 Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend. “We knew the horse had that quality, but he was the only three-year-old facing older horses who have much more experience than him, so what he did was very nice and we are very happy. He is a gelding, so hopefully he can travel as well but we are going to enjoy what happened today because it was a really nice performance.”

On a weekend when Japanese breeding and racing was proving unequivocally at the forefront internationally, this was the icing on the cake. Improving with every move up in trip, Double Major was making marked progression from his second in this track's G3 Prix Gerald de Geoffre in August when upstaging Moyglare Stud's equally exciting 3-year-old Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Chaudenay. This race has been known as the “French St Leger” and with that in mind Double Major's win represents a double for sons of Sunday Silence, as Heart's Cry's Continuous (Jpn) had taken the season's St Leger at Doncaster.

Annihilated them! Double Major delivers a remarkable performance to win the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at @paris_longchamp… pic.twitter.com/rrJoi6LBUe

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 29, 2023

Pedigree Notes
Double Major's listed-placed dam Dancequest is also responsible for the G3 Prix de Guiche winner and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and G2 Prix Eugene Adam-placed Flop Shot (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), as well as the listed-placed Veritas (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). She is kin to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroone Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) and the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer Balladeuse (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}), who each proved leading producers for the operation. Balladeuse was responsible for the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and this year's TDN Rising Star Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who was runner-up in the recent G3 Prix des Reservoirs, while Plumania's quartet of black-type performers are headed by the G2 Prix du Muguet scorer Plumatic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and she is also the second dam of the G1 Prix Saint Alary-placed Solsticia (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}).

Others to feature in this illustrious dynasty are the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Falco, the G1 Prix Lupin hero and leading sire Groom Dancer, fellow sires Slew The Slewor and Tagel and the G1 Prix Vermeille-winning champion Indian Rose (Fr), the G1 Prix Ganay hero Vert Amande (Fr) and the G1 Grand Prix de Paris victor Le Nain Jaune (Fr). There is also a Japanese champion sprinter and miler in Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}). Dancequest's unraced 2-year-old filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) is named Tyra (GB), while she also has a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire) named Rooba (Ire) and a colt foal also by Lope De Vega named Vegetarien (Ire).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX ROYAL-OAK-G1, €350,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-29, 3yo/up, 15 1/2fT, 3:35.89, hy.
1–DOUBLE MAJOR (IRE), 128, g, 3, by Daiwa Major (Jpn)
     1st Dam: Dancequest (Ire) (SP-Fr), by Dansili (GB)
     2nd Dam: Featherquest (GB), by Rainbow Quest
     3rd Dam: Featherhill (Fr), by Lyphard
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (IRE); T-Christophe Ferland; J-Maxime Guyon. €199,990. Lifetime Record: 9-4-4-0, €385,690. *1/2 to Flop Shot (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $264,611; & to Veritas (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Skazino (Fr), 130, g, 7, Kendargent (Fr)–Skallet (Fr), by Muhaymin. (€22,000 Ylg '17 ARQOCT; €150,000 RNA HRA '19 ARQARC). O-Gousserie Racing; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €80,010.
3–Tashkhan (Ire), 130, g, 5, Born To Sea (Ire)–Tarziyna (Ire), by Raven's Pass. (€11,000 2yo '20 GOFAUT). O-Mr P Boyle; B-His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Brian Ellison. €40,005.
Margins: 7HF, 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 3.30, 11.00, 5.70.
Also Ran: Al Nayyir (GB), Diva Donna (Fr), Galego Star (Fr), Metier (Ire), Novel Legend (Ire), Bubble Gift (Fr), Haya Zark (Fr), The Good Man (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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“There were some unknown factors beforehand and they centred mainly on his ability to handle such a trip for the first time and on heavy ground,” explained Gauvin. “Marie [Velon] gave him the perfect ride and, at halfway, I was relaxed to see him racing under cover and not too far behind. This horse is just so good and I'm suprised at what he can do every time he shows up. He shows more, he gives more and he's just unbelievable. With a gelding so lightly raced, there is a great temptation to travel. He has been invited to Japan, but will not go. Not that we are afraid of the competition, but because it is very often fast ground at that time of year. We will have a look at the [G1] Hong Kong Vase [in December] and, if he travels, that is where he will go. After that he will have a long break at the farm and he'll come back as strong, or stronger, next year.”

No More Encores
Dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song made a bold bid from the front once committed for home along the false straight, but rallied in trademark game fashion when headed to significantly reduce a large deficit nearing the line. Becoming a millionaire in her final outing, the 6-year-old homebred retires to the paddocks with a 21-5-6-2 record and earnings of €1,003,453. “This was her last race, she has run great and it was another cracking performance from her,” confirmed Dermot Weld. “It has been an honour to train her. She has won two Group 1 races and placed a number of times at this level. Hats off to the winner, he must be a very good horse.”

Pedigree Notes
Iresine, the second of five foals and half to a yearling colt by Chemical Charge (Ire), is the lone winner produced by Inanga (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself a full-sister to G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix Daphnis runner-up In Chambers (GB). Inanga, who is also kin to the dam of G3 Sagaro S. second Earth Amber (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), is a granddaughter of G3 Prix Vanteaux second Reve De Reine (Lyphard) Reve De Reine's leading lights are G3 Prix de Guiche victor Roi De Rome (Time For A Change) and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon third Rose De Thai (Lear Fan). Rose De Thai, in turn, is the dam of three black-type winners headed by G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial victor Truth Or Dare (GB) (Royal Academy). Iresine's MG1SW fourth dam Riverqueen (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}) is the ancestress of ill-fated G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Rouvres (Fr) (Anabaa) and dual G1 Premio Presidente Della Repubblica hero Altieri (GB) (Selkirk).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX ROYAL-OAK-G1, €350,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-23, 3yo/up, 15 1/2fT, 3:31.34, hy.
1–IRESINE (FR), 130, g, 5, by Manduro (Ger)
1st Dam: Inanga (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Cas Royaux, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Reve De Reine, by Lyphard
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€6,000 Ylg '18 ARQOCT). O-Bertrand Milliere, Ecurie Jean-Paul Gauvin, Christian Goutelle & Jean-Pierre Gauvin; B-Pierre Soyaux & Marie-Louise van Dedem (FR); T-Jean-Pierre Gauvin; J-Marie Velon. €199,990. Lifetime Record: 15-11-0-1, €474,090. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Search For A Song (Ire), 127, m, 6, Galileo (Ire)–Polished Gem (Ire), by Danehill. O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €80,010.
3–Sober (Fr), 122, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Burma Sea (Fr), by Lope De Vega (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €40,005.
Margins: 3, 7, 3HF. Odds: 2.10, 6.70, 3.90.
Also Ran: Princess Zoe (Ger), Al Qareem (Ire), Big Call, Almacado Gree (Fr), Dillian (Ire), Rajinsky (Ire), Or Gris (Fr). Scratched: Night Tornado (GB), Jannah Flower (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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While Nick Bradley Racing's Oct. 1 G2 Prix Chaudenay scorer Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) looks to be the leading 3-year-old and the accomplished Irish mares Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) would be emotive winners, there is the sense that another Longchamp lover Jannah Flower (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) is the key player. Al Shira'aa Farms' May 12 Listed Prix Gold River winner boasts two wins and three seconds from five starts at this track, with her latest efforts suggesting she is the class act in this line-up. Given too much to do on both occasions when second to Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil July 14 and to Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Oct. 1 G1 Prix de Royallieu over 14 furlongs, the Pascal Bary-trained bay has a killer kick if Stephane Pasquier can get his fractions right.

Click here for the group fields.

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“He's in good form, he's come out of the race very well,” said Varian. “I wouldn't rule it out [running again]. I have the option of running him again if I wanted to, he's only raced four times this year and he had a nice break from the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris to the Leger.

“He's only had five lifetime starts and he could run again and the two races to consider are the Long Distance Cup at Ascot or the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp. They are not until October and are a week apart, so he's got plenty of time and we've got plenty of time to make a decision.”

A winner of his first three starts at two and three, including the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot in June, the 'TDN Rising Star' was fourth in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris to Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) on July 14, prior to his St Leger heroics.

Varian added, “There's every chance and no reason to think he won't [make into a cup horse]. His pedigree would suggest he will improve with age and he's won twice now over a mile and three-quarters looking like he will be even better when he goes up to two miles.

“So we have to dream about him turning into a cup horse and see how things develop.”

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“We felt that to be ready in time for Ascot he'd have to go back into work now and as it's really only eight months since the injury was sustained-we don't feel it's quite long enough,” said Johnston. “We've taken the difficult decision to write this year off. He's very well in himself, but we want to give the injury the best chance of withstanding training when he comes back into full work. The longer he has off the better chance we stand, so we've had to weigh that up.

“It's very tough to leave your best horse on the sidelines for the season and we just hope we can make up for lost time in 2023.”

A winner of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak when signing off in 2020, the bay took the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Dubai World Cup night last year by 5 3/4 lengths prior to a five-length domination in the Gold Cup on June 17. The Dr. Jim Walker runner sustained an injury to his right foreleg in July of 2021, and has not been in action since.

“We'll probably aim towards Saudi Arabia this time next year and lead into Dubai and Ascot again,” added Johnston. “He's been swimming and on the water walker for six months now and he'll continue his current regime for the next couple of months before being turned out for the summer.”

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Rolling back to Newbury exactly one year and one day prior to his biggest day, Scope was getting the better of what was to become the most famous maiden in training in Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on their debuts in a mile novice on heavy ground. Back in action in a 10-furlong novice on good-to-firm at Newmarket Apr. 15, the chestnut was runner-up to Godolphin's unbeaten and subsequently unsighted Al Waqidi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) before chasing home Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in a renewal of the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial which was soon to take on greater significance May 8. Far from disgraced when fifth in the 12-furlong G2 Great Voltigeur at York Aug. 18, he was caught for speed and racing room at one stage in the straight but finished off strongly in the Leger before everything fell into place for a timely confidence boost in the Noel Murless.

This was again perfectly set up for the unexposed stayer whose career is not dissimilar to last year's winner and fellow son of Teofilo in Subjectivist (GB), with proven marathon man Alkuin (Ire) (Maxios {GB}) providing the target and most of the market-leaders reserved behind. It was the 4-1 favourite Skazino who threw the first punch in early straight and for a 100 metres it looked as if the G3 Prix de Barbeville, G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier and G2 Prix Kergorlay winner was going to write another chapter in Le Haras de la Gousserie's recent success story. Ultimately, he had reckoned without Scope's endless staying power and the British raider began to pull away as the line neared. There was to be no fairytale end to the remarkable career of Alain de Royer-Dupre, as last year's runner-up Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) failed to fire after blowing the start and finished a remote sixth.

“I wasn't expecting any of this,” commented Beckett, whose Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) had taken the G1 Criterium International 24 hours earlier. “I thought the horse yesterday would win, but I wasn't sure about today. He has improved since Ascot and improved with racing as many of his family do. I thought today beforehand he looked terrific. I was delighted with how well he travelled and how it panned out today. He's not an exuberant horse at home and in his races and only does enough and his mother and sisters were the same. At the start of the year, I said I thought he might be more of a Leger horse rather than a Derby horse, but I didn't expect it to be the French Leger but that'll do. He was very backward throughout his 2-year-old career and is still quite a raw immature individual, so he should develop from three to four and continue to improve.”

Scope is a son of Richmond-Watson's four-times winner Look So (GB) (Efisio {GB}), who was campaigned over seven furlongs and a mile and who also produced three other black-type performers in the Listed Hoppings S. winner and G3 Musidora S.-placed Regardez (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), the Listed Prix Petite Etoile winner and G2 Prix de Sandringham-placed Glance (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the Listed Ripon Two-Year-Old Trophy-placed Compton (GB) (Compton Place {GB}). Look So is kin to Look Here (GB) (Hernando {Fr), who captured the G1 Epsom Oaks for these connections as well as finishing third in the St Leger, the G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Pretty Polly S. She is responsible for another Noel Murless winner in Hereby (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was also third in the G2 Lancashire Oaks while the family also features the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Kayah (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and the G2 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Pursuit of Love (GB) (Groom Dancer). Look So's filly foal is by Night of Thunder (Ire).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX ROYAL-OAK-G1, €350,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-24, 3yo/up, 15 1/2fT, 3:27.35, vs.
1–SCOPE (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
     1st Dam: Look So (GB), by Efisio (GB)
     2nd Dam: Last Look (GB), by Rainbow Quest
     3rd Dam: Derniere Danse (GB), by Gay Mecene
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Mr J H Richmond-Watson; B-Lawn Stud (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Rob Hornby. €199,990. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 7-3-1-1, $298,796. *1/2 to Glance (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SW & GSP-Fr, MSP-Eng; 1/2 to Regardez (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), SW & GSP-Eng, GSP-Ire, GSP-US, $181,176. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Skazino (Fr), 130, g, 5, Kendargent (Fr)–Skallet (Fr), by Muhaymin. (€22,000 Ylg '17 AROCT; €150,000 RNA HRA '19 ARQARC). O-Le Haras de la Gousserie; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Cedric Rossi. €80,010.
3–Glycon (Fr), 130, g, 5, Le Havre (Ire)–Glorious Sight (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire). O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €40,005.
Margins: 1, 3HF, 1HF. Odds: 7.60, 4.10, 9.00.
Also Ran: Search For a Song (Ire), Zero Ten (Ire), Valia (Fr), Call the Wind (GB), Kemari (GB), Quickthorn (GB), Bel Aristo (Fr), Lord Achilles (Fr), Alkuin (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Moyglare Stud's dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was back to her best last time when issuing a 9 1/2-length beating to the G1 St Leger third The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in The Curragh's G3 Loughbrown S. over two miles Sept. 26 and the lightly-raced 5-year-old may be Valia's greatest threat. “She's in very good form. We're hoping there isn't too much rain, but I don't think there has been and hopefully the ground won't be as bad as it was on Arc weekend,” Fiona Craig said. “The Aga Khan's filly could be tough to beat, but we're hoping she'll run well. When she was younger she used to like the ground fast and firm. I don't think she needs that now, she just doesn't need to be stuck in a bog.”

Three-year-olds have won five of the last nine renewals and Godolphin's June 16 G2 Queen's Vase scorer Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has experience of this track having finished runner-up to stablemate Manobo (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Oct. 2 G2 Prix Chaudenay over half a furlong shorter. “We have been pleased with how Kemari came out of the Prix Chaudenay, which was a step back in the right direction following his run [when last of eight in the Aug. 18 G2 Great Voltigeur S.] at York,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He has handled these conditions before and we are hoping he can make the first three in what looks a competitive event.”

Also in the mix is Le Haras de la Gousserie's Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who took the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Barbeville and G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May and Deauville's G2 Prix Kergorlay Aug. 22 either side of a second to Valia in the Maurice de Nieuil. Perhaps overstretched when fourth in the 2 1/2-mile G1 Prix du Cadran here last time Oct. 2, he bids to cap a recent purple patch for connections while Julian Richmond-Watson's Oct. 1 Listed Noel Murless S. winner Scope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Haras de Saint Pair's Aug. 29 G2 Grand Prix de Deauville scorer Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) add intrigue to a competitive renewal.

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Trainer Dermot Weld said, “Search For A Song will go for the Prix Royal Oak next Sunday at Longchamp. She's won two Irish St Legers so let's see if she can win a French St Leger. We did it before with Vinnie Roe (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}) who won four Irish St Legers.

“She's in great form. She was very good the last day in The Curragh and we just hope they don't get too much more rain in France.”

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Mullins said, “We had a suspicion that she was in season, but we brought her to the vet this morning and she wasn't. She's coming into season now, so whether that unsettled her, I don't know. I'd say it was a combination of ground and trip and it being her first run of the season. Joey [Sheridan] said she was just going as fast as she was able to most of the time.

“We'll wait for a bit of rain. We're still looking at the Vintage Crop, but if the rain doesn't come she won't run. She's in good form and we're just hoping that things will improve for the run.”

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