Haras de la Perelle's 4-year-old colt Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}–Swertia {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}), a three-time Group 2 scorer back home in France and unbeaten in four pattern races shy of top-flight company, made the breakthrough in his fourth attempt at Group 1 level with a decisive win–and a landmark for trainer Stephane Wattel–in an international renewal of Sunday's G1 Westminster 133rd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten.
April's G1 Prix Ganay runner-up and June's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner broke alertly from the outside stall, finding a modicum of cover after passing the judge first time, and was positioned within range of the leaders–headed by Godolphin's New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and dual Group 1-winning 2022 Deutsches Derby hero Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB})–occupying a handy fourth out in the country. Powering forward out wide once into the straight, the 1-2 favourite inched ahead of last year's third Sammarco racing hard on the steel passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out inside the final furlong to easily withstand the late threat of 2021 G1 Deutsches Derby victor Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) by 3/4-of-a-length. Sisfahan's Henk Grewe stablemate and last term's sixth Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) ran on well to finish 2 1/4 lengths back in third. In a photographic quirk, Polish challenger Le Destrier (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), New London and Lady Ewelina (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) were in unison at the line and dead-heated for fifth.
“It is fantastic for the horse and, I have to admit, it's very nice for me because it's my first Group 1 after more than 30 years of training,” said an emotional Wattel in the aftermath. “I am so happy it happened here in Berlin with this fantastic crowd. It's a difficult job and sometimes it's tough, but when we train horses of this quality we can forget everything as this makes it all worthwhile.” Looking to the immediate future, the trainer tipped his hat to recent winners Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and added, “Simca Mille is engaged in the [G1 Prix de l'] Arc de Triomphe and some good winners of this race have run very well in that race. That should be the next target and it's a very big one.”
Rider Alexis Pouchin engaged celebratory mode early and allowed his mount to coast home in the dying strides before unleashing a joyful shadow punch across the line. “We had a great trip, he's a very good horse and found it quite easy in the straight,” he said. “I just kept him going and he responded well.”
Pedigree Notes
Simca Mille, who becomes the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire, is the first of three foals and lone scorer produced by a daughter of G3 Prix de Conde, G3 Prix Penelope and G3 Prix Cleopatre third Sanjida (Ire) (Polish Precedent). Sanjida is kin to three black-type winners headed by multiple Group 1-winning European champion Sarafina (Fr) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), herself the dam of Group 3-winning siblings Savarin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Geniale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Simca Mille, kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Slawena (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), is from the family of G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Preis von Europa hero Sumayr (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}).
Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany
WESTMINSTER 133RD GROSSER PREIS VON BERLIN-G1, €155,000, Hoppegarten, 8-13, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:34.24, gd.
1–SIMCA MILLE (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Tamayuz (GB)
1st Dam: Swertia (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Sanjida (Ire), by Polish Precedent
3rd Dam: Sanariya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€68,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Haras de la Perelle & Stephane Wattel; B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Stephane Wattel; J-Alexis Pouchin. €100,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Fr, 14-7-5-0, €610,840. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sisfahan (Fr), 132, h, 5, Isfahan (Ger)–Kendalee (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€16,000 Ylg '19 ARQNOV). O-Darius Racing & Michael Motschmann; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Henk Grewe. €30,000.
3–Assistent (Ger), 132, c, 4, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Anna Kalla (Ger), by Kalatos (Ger). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€58,000 Ylg '20 BBAGS). O-Eckhard Sauren & Liberty Racing 2020; B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €15,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, 3. Odds: 0.50, 17.20, 9.10.
Also Ran: Sammarco (Ire), *Le Destrier (Ire), *New London (Ire), *Lady Ewelina (GB).
*Three-way dead-heat for fifth.
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