It was a case of heads up, heads down at the conclusion of Saint-Cloud's G1 Criterium International on Saturday, with Coolmore's homebred Galileo duo Proud And Regal (Ire) and Espionage (Ire) engaged in a thrilling tussle in which the former ultimately prevailed.
Last seen finishing runner-up in the Sept. 11 G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., the Donnacha O'Brien-trained son of the G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth S. heroine Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) who captured the July 21 G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown was asked to keep close tabs on Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Espionage by Gavin Ryan as that rival took up the running from the outset.
Getting to the stand's rail as they entered the straight, the 3-1 second favourite stuck to his guns despite the tenacity of the eventual runner-up under Ioritz Mendizabal and managed to overhaul his compatriot in the final stride for a head success. The Ralph Beckett-trained Salt Bay (Ger) (Farhh {GB}) was 1 3/4 lengths back in third.
“He was very genuine and it was nice to get a big one with him,” Donnacha said. “It was only in the last furlong that he really got on top of dad's horse, but I'm sure they're two nice staying horses going forward.”
While there was perhaps a bigger pointer for the 2023 Derby from the latest Ballydoyle star at Doncaster later in the afternoon, the youngest trainer of the O'Brien clan has his own dreams of Classic glory next term. “He's probably going to want 10 or 12 furlongs next year, which opens up a lot of options for him. He's a good stayer,” he added. “He's had a few runs and he's plenty fit, but he's had a long enough year so it's a testament to him that he's still performing at a high class this far into the year. Whether we stick around for Classics with him in this part of the world or go travelling with him, we've plenty of options.”
Pedigree Notes
Becoming the 97th group 1 winner for his outstanding sire, Proud And Regal who was also third behind Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the Aug. 20 G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh is the last and best foal out of the aforementioned Simply Perfect. Also responsible for Galileo's G3 International S. winner Mekong River (Ire) and G3 Princess Royal S. and G3 Give Thanks S. runner-up Simply Beautiful (Ire), she is a full-sister to One Moment In Time (Ire) who produced two other notable Galileos in the dual group 3 winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Bondi Beach (Ire) and the G3 Gallinule S. scorer Constantinople (Ire).
The second dam is the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Fillies' Mile-placed Hotelgenie Dot Com (GB) (Selkirk), whose half-sister Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse) was successful in the Moyglare and the G2 Lowther S. and is the second dam of the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S., G1 Juddmonte International S., G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic-winning sire Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio and G2 Park Hill S. winner God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and the GIII Beverly Hills H. winner and GI Yellow Ribbon S. runner-up Turning Top (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). God Given is the dam of this year's G3 Autumn S. and G3 Solario S. winner Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who could provide another top-level success if things fall his way at the Breeders' Cup next month.
Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL-G1, €250,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:51.34, hy.
1–PROUD AND REGAL (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Simply Perfect (GB) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SP-Fr,
$753,005), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Hotelgenie Dot Com (GB), by Selkirk
3rd Dam: Birch Creek (GB), by Carwhite (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-D Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,
Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien; J-Gavin
Ryan. €142,850. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Ire, 5-3-1-1,
€273,550. *Full to Mekong River (Ire), GSW-Ire, $182,118.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Espionage (Ire), 126, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Even Song (Ire), by
Mastercraftsman (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising
Star'. O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith;
B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €57,150.
3–Salt Bay (Ger), 126, c, 2, Farhh (GB)–Saltita (Ire), by Galileo
(Ire).1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (350,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT).
O-Valmont; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (GER); T-Ralph Beckett.
€28,575.
Margins: HD, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.90, 6.30, 8.40.
Also Ran: Syros (Fr), Breizh Sky (Fr), Romina Power (Fr), Kubrick (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
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Smith,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,Westerberg