Parlando Scoops Bahrain Turf Series Bonus

Given a letter-perfect steer by the veteran Gerald Mosse, the Ian Williams-trained Parlando (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bested a dozen others to win Friday's Vision 2030 by Beyon handicap over the 2000 metres by a length and with it, took home the $40,000 bonus prize for the Bahrain Turf Series, which concluded Friday at Sakhir.

The 5-year-old gelding, rated 86, was produced late to defeat the Hugo Palmer-conditioned, two-time series pointsgetter Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), rated on 92 and giving three kilos to the eventual winner. It was Parlando's first win since carrying William Buick to a debut victory at Leicester back in October 2021. The bay was sold on by his breeder Godolphin for £105,000 at the 2023 Tattersalls Ascot March Sale and was placed four times in as many starts in England ahead of his Bahrain campaign.

Both Parlando and Box To Box ended on 28 points, but the former had the tiebreaker by virtue of his victory Friday.

“I had the ridden the horse once before so I knew him,” Mosse said. “He travelled really nice and I was biding my time, as I knew he would finish well. If you ride him too close to the pace, he will do too much. Today he was relaxed in behind and when I pressed the button, he was ready to answer.”

Added Harvey Williams, assistant to and son of trainer Ian Williams: “We're so happy with that result, really delighted. And to have won the Bahrain Turf Series bonus prize is great news. We will definitely be back next year!”

 

WATCH: Parlando races away in the Vision 2030 by Beyon handicap

 

Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), trained by John and Sean Quinn, could only manage sixth in the Al Sakhir Cup handicap, but he had amassed an insurmountable lead courtesy of a win and a second-place finish in the first two legs of the sprint series and finished well clear of the remainder on 41 points. Friday's contest up the 1000-metre straight course was taken out by stablemate Jm Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

The afternoon's richest affair, the $135,000 Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, was won by a widening four-length margin by the season's most-improved galloper Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The full-brother to multiple Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB) was adding to his recent success in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup and all things equal, he will make his next start in the Mar. 8 King's Cup.

“That was a flawless performance. Roll on the King's Cup!” said his jockey Callum Shephard.

 

WATCH: Isle of Jura dominates again in Bahrain

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One Night In Vichy: It’s Right Up Our Allier 

“Come to Vichy,” they said. “We'll stop in Deauville on the way, it'll be fun.”

So began a 60-hour pilgrimage to one of the five days of racing that comprise the biggest week of the year at the Hippodrome Vichy Bellerive, a charming course with delicate touches of Art Nouveau glamour set on the banks of the Allier river. 

TDN readers of a National Hunt persuasion (there may be some!) might have felt their interest piqued at the mention of the Allier region, deep in central France and famed for its AQPS graduates, such as the Bruno Vagne-bred Envoi Allen (Fr) and Haras de Saint Voir's Gauloise (Fr). But Vichy in the sweltering heat of July is all about the Flat, with the racecourse's most prestigious race, the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy, being the highlight of the Festival du Galop, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary. 

The history of Vichy Bellerive stretches back much farther than that, almost 150 years in fact. In 1875, the grand old Duc de Morny, largely remembered as the architect of the rather more celebrated racing resort of Deauville, persuaded his great friend Baron de Veauce to set up a riverside racecourse in the spa town. Vichy, referred to by one pithy bloodstock agent as “the capital of the collaborators”, was of course later more readily known for its status during the war, but it is a place well worth visiting even if horses aren't your thing. There certainly aren't any TDN readers of whom we can say that, but some of us do occasionally look up from our pedigree pages and poultices to enjoy the odd pursuit unconnected to equines, and if you have even a passing interest in architecture and Art Deco style, then hotfoot it to Vichy at once and walk around looking up. You won't be disappointed.

Our own rather more jolly collaboration for a road trip, which began in 40-degree Suffolk heat, comprised of three co-owners of a horse we visited briefly in Deauville, with the expedition being led by the sole owner-breeder of the rather aptly-named Duc De Morny (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}). The latter was set to run in the mouthful of a race that is Vichy's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles Bernard Ferrand. The Prix Morny would have been much more straightforward.

The owner-breeder in question is Jocelyn Targett, a man never knowingly under-enthused about life in general, and about horseracing in particular. Hopes were high en route, and deservedly so, because the equine Duc had won his first two starts for Christophe Ferland and had mercifully arrived in Vichy from La Teste de Buch ahead of the forest fire that forced the evacuation of his stable-mates to Bordeaux last Tuesday. 

It is a safe bet that not many breeders compose songs in their heads about their horses, but then Targett is rather extraordinary in a number of ways. So as the 400 miles between Deauville and Vichy were whiled away we joined him in several choruses of 'Duc, Duc, Duc, Duc de Morny, Morny, Morny' to the tune of Gene Chandler's Duke of Earl, and arrived eventually, in the highest of spirits. 

The heatwave had abated sufficiently to provide perfect conditions for a turf meeting en lumiere, and Vichy Bellerive was awash with families enjoying an agreeable evening at the races. Not all of them were necessarily there to witness the European debut of the surprise Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road (Quality Road), whose connections sprang even more of a surprise by deciding to run him a) on turf, and b) in the Grand Prix de Vichy.

His new trainer, Alessandro Botti, was playing a rather straight bat, if one can use a cricketing analogy for a French-based Italian, when it came to discussing Emblem Road's chances on his first run for 144 days and since moving from Riyadh to Chantilly. Following his fifth-place finish in a Grand Prix field of six, narrowly behind a horse who had been claimed for €18,111 after his previous run, the Botti bat was straighter still as his poker face made it impossible to discern to what, if any, extent he was surprised by the horse's lacklustre performance.

It has been a strange week for Saudi Cup winners. The 2021 winner Mishriff (Ire) plainly wasn't right in February when never travelling in this year's race on a dirt track which appeared to have been prepared with a deeper, more attritional surface than had been the case 12 months earlier. Mishriff bounced back to finish only a neck behind Vadeni (Fr) in the Coral-Eclipse, but he was almost 11 lengths behind Pyledriver (GB) when third in Saturday's King George, and he has dwelt in the stalls on both his last two starts.

Emblem Road's disappointing comeback was of little concern to the many racing fans who swamped the winner's rostrum after the 6-year-old Riocorvo (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) was led back in as the Grand Prix winner under Gerald Mosse.

As giant sparklers were let off around the podium, the evergreen jockey, who won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May on Mangoustine (Fr), was enjoying the delights of Vichy every bit as much, if not more than, ParisLongchamp. And who can blame him? With 'Miss Allier' on one arm and her similarly sashed deputy on the other, and laden with bottles of champagne and a giant box of chocolates, Mosse certainly appeared to be, as the youngsters say, living his best life. 

A bit like on Grand National day, the race immediately after the main event was restricted to amateurs and apprentices, which was just as well for Mosse, as there followed the longest presentation ceremony known to man. Speeches, more sparklers, some more speeches, and yet more champagne thrust into the jockey's welcoming arms ensued. By now, with darkness properly descended and just the final race set to go off at 10.45pm, one might have expected the family-heavy crowd to start dissipating. But the many miniature ponies scattered about the racecourse were still doing sterling service transporting young children about by saddle or by cart, the restaurants and bars were swinging, and it was clear that there would be no leavers until the last banger had gone up in the post-race firework display.

Duc De Morny had silenced us only temporarily with his performance on the night which, though creditable, saw him finish in the position all breeders with a black-type runner dread: fourth. As a young colt who has already shown much promise, he'll be back, for sure, and by then we may have learned the lines to the second verse of Duke of Earl.

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Riocorvo Powers To Grand Prix de Vichy Triumph

Georgiana Cabrero's 6-year-old entire Riocorvo (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}–Rio Cobra {Ger}, by Silvano {Ger}) was the only one of six contenders found wanting for black-type when sent postward for Wednesday's G3 Grand Prix de Vichy and upcycled his resume with a decisive success and career best in the 10-furlong test. He was let go as a 63-10 chance coming back off a May 15 handicap win at ParisLongchamp and a fourth in last month's Listed Grand Prix de Compiegne, on stakes bow last time, and raced three lengths off the clear leader Diamond Vendome (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}) in second for the most part. Bustled along passing the quarter-mile marker, he seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear in the latter stages to easily account for Godolphin's Sundoro (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by three lengths. This term's G1 Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road (Quality Road) was unable to land a telling blow and finished a well-beaten fifth.

Riocorvo, half-brother to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Sea White (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), is the first of five foals and one of two scorers from as many runners produced by an unraced daughter of G3 Preis der Winterkonigin victrix Royal Dubai (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}). Black-type descendants of Royal Dubai, herself a half-sister to GI Beverly S. S. victrix Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), include G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Turf-winning US champion Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The February-foaled bay hails from a family which also features G1 Dubai World Cup, G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Gran Premio di Milano-winning sire Electrocutionist (Red Ransom) and G1 Deutsches Derby hero Robertico (GB) (Robellino).

Wednesday, Vichy, France
GRAND PRIX DE VICHY-G3, €80,000, Vichy, 7-20, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:05.30, g/s.
1–RIOCORVO (GER), 129, h, 6, by Pastorius (Ger)
1st Dam: Rio Cobra (Ger), by Silvano (Ger)
2nd Dam: Royal Dubai (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€11,000 Wlg '16 ARQDEC). O-Mme Georgiana Cabrero; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (GER); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Gerald Mosse. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 13-6-1-1, €125,580. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sundoro (Ire), 126, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Lava Flow (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. €16,000.
3–Diamond Vendome (Fr), 129, g, 7, Style Vendome (Fr)–Ordargent (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€95,000 RNA 4yo '19 ARQARC). O-Christophe Plisson, Mme Nathalie Viot, Eric Blaisse, Mme Marie-Annick Jegu & Pierre Ory; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Christophe Plisson. €12,000.
Margins: 3, NK, 3/4. Odds: 6.30, 5.50, 21.00.
Also Ran: Kertez (GB), Emblem Road, Coeur Macen (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Seven Days: Abundance

Can we have too much of a good thing? When it comes to racing in the spring the answer is almost certainly not, but the rapidity with which all the decent action takes place can make it difficult to take it all in. For example, in the last 11 days we have had three Derby favourites. First the horse who had held that honour all winter, Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was then replaced by his stable-mate Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), all the rage after his Derby Trial victory at Leopardstown following the defection of Luxembourg from Epsom. But Stone Age held his position for only four days before he was pipped by the Dante S. winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), about whom the dogs had apparently been howling that Sir Michael Stoute was on his way to claim the Derby for a sixth time, 41 years after Shergar (Ire) galloped his way into the history books. 

By Derby day itself, Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) will almost certainly shorten merely for the fact that Frankie Dettori has been booked to ride him, but there is plenty to suggest that he would not be unworthy of that support. We'll see.

In the meantime, thoughts have turned to the Prix du Jockey Club, a great stopgap between the Guineas and Derby since its distance was shortened to 2,100m back in 2005. On Sunday, Charlie Appleby said of his Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), “I always had it in the back of my mind that he might be a French Derby horse.” With that colt having become the first British-trained winner of the race for 17 years, it would be no surprise to see him attempt to emulate the last one, Shamardal, by snaring a French Classic double. It would also help to alleviate one problem faced by Appleby in attempting to keep Modern Games, Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) apart. But let's face it, as problems go, it's high on the first-world list.

Jean-Claude Rouget has also been waxing lyrical about the Prix des Suresnes winner Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), drawing flattering comparisons to Sottsass (Ire), and seemingly not just for the very similar pattern of his breeding. Then there is the good-looking Lassaut (Fr), from the first crop of Jockey Club winner Almanzor (Fr), whose running-on fifth in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains can be regarded as a decent trial for June 5.

It would also be folly to overlook the claims of G2 Prix Greffulhe winner Onesto (Ire), the colt by Frankel (GB) who returned to Europe after being an unlikely candidate for a Florida breeze-up sale. But he breezed with ease, earning himself a $535,000 price tag and a place in Fabrice Chappet's Chantilly stable. We'll be hearing more about Onesto later this week in TDN, but a viewing of him during Chappet's second lot on Monday morning was enough to leave a strong impression that he is a horse with a perfect temperament for the big day.

Mosse Pockets His Plans

The indefatigable Gerald Mosse, impeccably bedecked in his trademark white gloves and a silver brooch of two horses' head at the collar of his silks, rode his 15th French Classic winner at Longchamp on Sunday. It was his first since winning the Prix du Jockey Club on Reliable Man (GB) in 2011.

Of his latest, Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), he said, “She really kicked strongly and fought all the way to the line. She kept something in the pocket for the end.”

Mangoustine was not the only one. The 55-year-old jockey has already passed the necessary exams to start a secondary career as a trainer but, understandably after the elation of his second win in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches following Zalaiyka (Fr) (Royal Academy) 24 years ago, he said thoughts of retirement are far from his mind.

“For now I'll keep my training licence in my pocket,” added Mosse.

Born To Run

Somewhat unusually, four of the top five lots at last year's Arqana Breeding Stock Sale have remained in training this season, and three of them have enjoyed a real purple patch of late.

On Saturday, Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), the sale-topper at €3 million, made a triumphant comeback in her new home country of America, where she was the impressive victrix of the GIII Beaugay S. for Peter Brant, Michael Tabor and trainer Chad Brown.

Brant and Brown also teamed up with Speak Of The Devil (Fr) Wootton Bassett {GB}), a €1.95 million purchase, to win the GII Longines Churchill Distaff S. on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Meanwhile Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), now six, has remained in training in France with Gianluca Bietolini for her new owner Haras de Hus, and she has added the Listed Prix Zarkava and G3 Prix Allez France to her tally of wins this season.

The World's Gone Mad

It would be churlish to present a round-up of the action of the past week and not mention the mighty Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won his third G2 Yorkshire Cup. It seems extraordinary that the horse who last week set a new European record for the number of Group wins (18) should have an invisible question mark hanging over him with regard to his future stud career. 

Too small and the wrong colour for a National Hunt stallion, some say, but frankly that option shouldn't even be in the reckoning. Wouldn't it be refreshing if a son of one of the best horses most of us have ever seen, from a Wildenstein dynasty deep with talent, who has proved his own abundant ability and soundness year after year, be afforded the respect he deserves by Flat breeders. After all, who among us would not love to race a horse such as this?

Too much to ask? Let's hope not.

Titannia Upholds Family Honour

Two years ago we noted the Danish Classic double of Tassmania (Den), the filly whose existence is largely owing to her dam Transsylvania (Den) (Le Havre {Ire}) having won a nomination to Sir Percy (GB) as part of her prize for landing the Listed Lanwades Stud S. in Norway in 2015.

Transsylvania's owner/breeders Dean and Mette Olsen duly bred her to Sir Percy, resulting in victory in the Danish 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas for her daughter Tassmania. Now the family is at it again. 

Transsylvania's current 3-year-old Titannia (Den), by Appel Au Maitre (Fr), won the Danish 1000 Guineas on May 7 and is now poised to attempt to emulate her half-sister by taking on the colts. The filly, who was retained by the Olsens, also provided Lars Kelp with his first Classic victory since returning to the training ranks with just five horses under his care.

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