Rouget Pleased With Ace Impact Ahead Of The Arc, As Field Takes Shape

The undefeated G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favourite Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) is pleasing trainer Jean-Claude Rouget ahead of the big day on Sunday. He is one of 16 on the radar for the ParisLongchamp showpiece after Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire})'s defection at the latest forfeit stage on Tuesday.

A colourbearer for Gousserie Racing and Ecuries Serge Stempniak, the five-for-five G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero ran out a three-quarter length winner of the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano when last seen in August.

“Why shouldn't I be optimistic? I'm coming in with a horse that's unbeaten,” said Rouget, who is seeking his second Arc after the success of Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in 2020.

“We know in any race anything can happen and we're coming to the end of the season, but he gets three kilos from the older horses, which is important. I'm optimistic in the sense that he goes into the race unbeaten and has done everything we have asked him to so far.

“It's been six weeks [since Deauville] and the six weeks have passed very quickly.”

The 2400-metre Arc will be the colt's first try over that trip and at that racecourse. In the lead up to Sunday's card, the weather also appears to be playing fair which is good news for several contenders.

“Obviously we can't be certain, but with the way he finishes his races and also the fact his sire was a winner over the distance gives us hope that he can stay,” he continued. “If the Prix du Jockey Club [French Derby] had been over a mile and a half, as it was in the past, he would have won that.

“Last year Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) was in the same place for us and he ran really well [finished second to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB})]. I'm not worried about the course, he's an easy horse once he's settled in his race and there are plenty of horses that have won the Arc that also hadn't run at Longchamp before.

“I think it is going to be good for everyone, which is an interesting point about this year's race. In the past the race was often criticised for its heavy ground and the fact horses are tired, but this year I think the ground is going to suit everyone.”

 

Ground Key For Feed The Flame And Fantastic Moon

G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB})'s camp is hoping for a bit of ease in the ground. Pascal Bary is seeking his first Arc, and is also confident in his Jean-Louis Bouchard-owned colt, who was second to Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the G2 Prix Niel earlier this month.

“He's a very good horse, he has a very good temperament and he gets the mile and a half really, really well,” said Bary. “I think on the day of the Arc, the ground will be slightly different and he will be more comfortable on that ground.

“Anything a bit softer than the ground he encountered in the Jockey Club, Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel would be appreciated.”

The connections of G1 Deutsches Derby hero and Prix Niel scorer Fantastic Moon were pleased with their colt's Tuesday work at Munich and have not ruled out the Arc at this stage. Raced by the Liberty Racing Syndicate, Fantastic Moon would need to be supplemented.

“Fantastic Moon's work in Munich was very good,” said Liberty Racing Syndicate's Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten on X on Tuesday morning. “The trainer will have a discussion with the owners about the possibilities with an eye on ground conditions. The Arc is in any case again a real option, if the sun continues.”

Another expected supplement is the Coolmore partners' Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who won the G1 St Leger for Aidan O'Brien in mid-September.

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Bauhinia At Saint-Cloud For Second Test

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 the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'.

13.40 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT
BAUHINIA (IRE) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status at ParisLongchamp last month and Godolphin's daughter of the G2 Rockfel S.-placed Desert Blossom (Ire) (Shamardal) is kept away from black-type company for now by Andre Fabre. Among her opponents is Ecurie des Charmes's Deauville conditions scorer Opera Mundi (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a Carlos & Yann Lerner-trained relative of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) and G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

 

14.25 Newbury, Cond, £20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
INVERSION (GB) (Frankel {GB}) makes her debut in this Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises British EBF Fillies' Conditions S. which obviously enjoys a special resonance with the Charlton stable, having won it for three of the last five years including with the subsequent G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Quadrilateral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and with this Juddmonte homebred's half-sister Lucid Dreamer (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Also successful with L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) in 2002, their runner this time is also a half-sister to the recent GI Diana S. winner Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio).

 

16.40 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT
MILITARY LEADER (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is introduced by Charlie Appleby at a track at which he likes to run his smart juveniles and this is a half-brother to this year's G1 Coronation S. third Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}). A 1.5million gns Tatts Book 1 purchase, he hails from the spectacularly successful Kilfrush Stud family of Galileo's Hydrangea (Ire), The United States (Ire) and Hermosa (Ire).

 

17.15 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT
AGE OF BAROQUE (FR) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is another Godolphin-Appleby project starting out on the Polytrack, being a grandson of the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Grey Lilas (Ire) (Danehill) from the immediate family of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Golden Lilac (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Costing €575,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, the Februray-foaled bay has some experienced peers to overcome including Victorious Racing's 360,000gns Tatts Craven Breeze-Up graduate Military Artist (Munnings) from the Roger Varian stable.

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Making Waves: A Masterful 56 For Dubawi

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Master Of The Seas in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile at Woodbine on Saturday.

 

Dubawi Gelding Masters Woodbine Mile Foes

The Classic-placed Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) won his first race at the Grade I level for breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Saturday (video).

Already a five-time group winner who was second in the 2021 edition of the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the 5-year-old was last seen taking the G2 Summer Mile S. at Ascot. One of four stakes winners for his listed-winning and G1 French 1000 Guineas second dam, Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), Master Of The Seas is a half-brother to the dam of top-level winners Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The 56th Grade/Group 1 winner worldwide for his Darley sire, Master Of The Seas is one of 37 winners from 76 runners (48%) in the U.S. Dubawi has accumulated 20 stakes winners (26%) in North America, including 10 Grade I winners.

 

 

Jockey Club Oaks Goes To Teofilo Filly

Godolphin homebred Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) secured her first victory at the graded level with a win in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. for trainer Charlie Appleby on Saturday (video).

Already a listed winner and second in the G2 Prix Alex Head during her 2023 European campaign, the chestnut is the second foal and first winner for the winning Dubawi (Ire) mare Voice Of Truth (Ire), herself a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner and Classic-placed sire Rio De La Plata (Rahy). Eternal Hope is a half-sister to Blue Point (Ire) juvenile filly Word's Out (Ire), a yearling full-sister who is lot 168 as part of the Baroda Stud draft at the Goffs Orby Sale, and an Australia (GB) half-brother born this year. Voice Of Truth was picked up for €35,000 out of the Godolphin consignment by Gary Mullins carrying her Teofilo yearling at Goffs November in 2021.

Darley's Teofilo is responsible for 17 winners from 27 runners (63%) in North America. His four stakes winners (15%) are anchored by GI Saratoga Derby victor Nations Pride, and Eternal Hope is his third graded winner in that locale.

 

 

Sea Venture A Success

Lael Stables' Ready To Venture (GB) (Kingman {GB}) claimed a career high in the GIII Seaway S. at Woodbine on Sunday (video). Trained by Mike Stidham, the 5-year-old was making her first start in graded company.

A homebred for Roy and Gretchen Jackson who raced GI Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (Dynaformer) and bred George Washington (Ire) (Danehill), the two-time U.S. stakes winner is the first foal out of the G3 Pinnacle S. third Wonderstruck (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). A half-sister to the aforementioned Classic winner George Washington and to three-time Group 1 winner Grandera (Ire) (Grand Lodge), her latest is a weanling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB).

Juddmonte's Kingman is responsible for 30 winners from 55 runners in the U.S. (54.5%). Eight of that cohort (14.5%) are stakes winners, with three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) his best.

 

 

Sweet Like Sugar

Gregory Hoffman, R.T Racing Stable and Clay Scherer's Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) followed up a runner-up performance at Saratoga into a Belmont at the Big A victory on Saturday (video).

The Brad Cox trainee was bred by G. H. S. Bloodstock and J. C. Bloodstock, and brought €150,000 from Scherer as a Goffs Orby yearling in 2022. Ever So Sweet is one of three foals for her dam, the Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Shine (GB), who is a full-sister to the listed winner and black-type producer Shamandar (Fr) and a half-sister to the listed winner and G3 Prix la Rochette second Hung Parliament (Fr) (Numerous). Third dam Blushing Heiress (Blushing John) won both the GII Wilshire H. and GIII Palomar H.

The progeny of Coolmore stallion Calyx are thriving as autumn arrives, and all three of his U.S. runners have now won, including the stakes-placed Angiolleta (Ire). Internationally, the G2 Coventry S. hero has 14 winners anchored by G2 Duchess of Cambridge heroine Persian Dreamer.

 

 

Too Darn Hot Filly Shines At The Meadowlands

It's Hot In Here (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who runs in the silks of Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, LLC, Michael Kisber and William Rucker, won at Monmouth Park at the Meadowlands late last week for trainer Chad Brown (video). She is the first runner and winner in North America for her Darley sire.

Part of the Ballylinch Stud breeding programme, she was making her second start after running third to future GI Natalma S. fourth Ozara (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at Saratoga in August. The €110,000 Arqana August yearling selection of Mandore International Agency, the bay is the sixth foal and fifth winner produced by Listed Flaming Page S. second and GIII My Charmer H. third Janicellaine (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}). The dam has a yearling filly by Lope De Vega (Ire), who is consigned as lot 428 by Ballylinch to the Goffs Orby Sale next week and a weanling filly by Make Believe (GB). Janicellaine is also a half-sister to the star-crossed GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) among others.

Worldwide, Too Darn Hot has sired 15 winners. G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G3 Sweet Solera S. victress Fallen Angel (GB), G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prestige S. winner Darnation (Ire) and Carolina Reaper (GB), who claimed the G3 Zukunfts Rennen, are his trio of stakes winners so far.

 

 

Kodiac Filly Game Beneath The Twin Spires

Stonestreet Stables' Salt Spray (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) made her second start a winning one at Churchill Downs for trainer Wesley Ward on Thursday (video).

Bred by Denis Brosnan's Epona Bloodstock, Ltd., the 285,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling, who was picked up by Ben McElroy for Barbara Banke's operation, is out of Taste The Salt (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), who is a half-sister to G2 Norfolk S. winner Baitha Alga (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}). Taste The Salt has the juvenile filly Lady Of War (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire) who will be offered by Croom House Stud as lot 132 at the Goffs Orby Sale later this month, and a full-sister to the winner born this year, yet to come.

Tally-Ho's Kodiac has sired 38 winners from 76 (50%) to race in the U.S. Seven (9%) of them have won stakes, led by GII City of Hope Mile S. hero True Valour (Ire), and Grade III winners Campanelle (Ire), Island Of Love (Ire), and Spirit Of Xian (Ire). Dual Group 1 winner Campanelle, too, raced in the marigold-with-a-burgundy-vee Stonestreet silks.

 

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Daughter of Siyarafina Debuts in Fascinating Chantilly Affair

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. Wednesday's Insights features a daughter of G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) at Chantilly.

12.50 Chantilly, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, f, 8fT
SIYANDRA (IRE) (Medaglia d'Oro) is the first foal out of The Aga Khan's G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), who was out of a listed-winning and dual group-placed half-sister to the owner-breeder's sire sensation Siyouni (Fr) and the G1 Sun Chariot S. and GI E. P. Taylor S. heroine Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Francis-Henri Graffard has charge of the March-foaled homebred, whose peers include Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard's Million Miles Away (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a Pascal Bary-trained daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) bought for €400,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville August; and a Wertheimer pair in the Christophe Ferland-trained Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half to the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and the Andre Fabre-trained Solite (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud scorer Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) and a full-sister to the G2 Prix du Muguet winner Plumatic (GB).

15.05 Sandown, Novice, £12,000, 2yo, 7fT
DUKE'S COMMAND (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) cost Godolphin 1.6million gns at last year's Tatts Book 1, with his dam being a daughter of the revered Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and therefore a full-sister to the Classic heroines Minding (Ire), Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire). Connections will be buoyed by the fact that Minding's Dubawi colt Henry Longfellow (Ire) placed himself in the elite of his generation in the recent G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. and Charlie Appleby opts for a track that he often sends his better juveniles to.

14.30 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 8fT
DAMBUSTER (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was a 750,000gns buy-back by his breeder Chasemore Farm at Tatts Book 1 and is now one of Andrew Balding's Kingsclere stable as he prepares for his debut. A full-brother to the G3 Prestige S. winner Boomer (GB), the relative of The Cheka (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) meets a rare Shadwell runner for the Harry Eustace stable in Muttasil (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a colt from the immediate family of Tamayuz (GB).

HOW THEY FARED

19.00 Newcastle, Novice, £6,600, 2yo, f, 6fT
Leveret (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}) may have had the pedigree, being a half-sister to the recent GI Beverly D S. heroine Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), but was not expected to make waves on this debut at 33-1. Belying those odds despite a tardy break, the Manister House Stud homebred finished off strongly to be runner-up which augurs well for her future.

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