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Frankel’s Alpinista Takes The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud

Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was making her comeback in Sunday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, but there was no sign of rustiness as she overwhelmed a deep field for a fourth consecutive top-level victory. Now unbeaten in her last six starts including the G2 Lancashire Oaks, G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin, G1 Preis Von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern, the Sir Mark Prescott-trained grey was held up early travelling notably strongly for Luke Morris in rear of mid-division. Unleashed wide at the top of the straight, the 8-1 shot rolled by the progressive Fabre trainee Baratti (GB) (Frankel {GB}) a furlong from home en route to a 1 1/4-length success, with Bubble Gift (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) a neck away in third. There are worrying signs for connections of the 4-5 favourite Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), as he weakened in early straight and beat only one rival.

“She's taken a long time to come to hand this year, which is why she missed the Coronation Cup and I feel she's only just starting to come now, so I hope she can improve for the run and I think all roads will lead to the Arc,” Morris said. “We usually ride her very handy, but there looked to be a lot of pace in the race so on her first run of the year we said we'd take a chance and drop her in a bit more and see how she went. The gap came lovely and she produced a very good turn of foot. She beat Torquator Tasso last year and it was the decision between going to Germany for what looked a very easy group one or going for the Arc and we chose the easy option–this year we may aim a bit higher.”

Alpinista is arguably the best that Prescott has trained since her dual G1 Champion S.-winning relative Alborada (GB) (Alzao), but she has taken time to reach full maturity and fulfil her potential. Since registering her first black-type win in Salisbury's Listed Upavon Fillies' S. in August 2020, the only rivals to have taken her measure have been Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks shortly after and Antonia De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Princess Royal S. at Newmarket the following month. “It was a faultless performance wasn't it really? She wouldn't come in her coat in the Spring and wasn't at a stage where she could run,” her trainer said. “She's just come right now and to be honest I thought the race might come 10 days too soon for her, but it's worked out very well. You would hope she could improve a tiny bit more.”

“We'll see what Miss Rausing feels, but I would think one run before the Arc, probably, and conventionally you'd go for the Prix Vermeille–that would be the obvious race,” Prescott added. “I don't see any reason to be a clever Dick, I think you just go with the obvious and hope she's good enough to do it.” Juddmonte's Barry Mahon said of Baratti, “He has run a great race. Andre Fabre has always said he is a good horse and he has had a few setbacks, including one before the Hardwicke but we now have a good horse for the second half of the season.”

Alpinista is the first foal out of the listed scorer Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), who is one of four black-type winners out of the family's initial triple German group 1 winner Albanova (GB) (Alzao). The others are the group 3 scorer Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), the listed scorer and group 3-placed Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the triple French listed winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who is in turn the dam of this year's G2 Queen's Vase winner Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The third dam is the Listed Oyster S. winner Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), producer of the aforementioned Alborada who is kin to the G3 Doncaster Cup winner Alleluia (GB) (Caerleon) who in turn produced the G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Alouette is also a half to the G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) by Albanova and Alborada's sire Alzao, who boasts the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulians-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill) among her progeny list. Also related to last year's G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Alwilda has the dual-winning 3-year-old filly Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) and a filly foal by Iffraaj {GB).

Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €400,000, Saint-Cloud, 7-3, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:26.15, g/s.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 125, m, 5, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €228,560. Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Mare-Eng at 11-14f, Ch. Older Mare-Ger at 11-14f, MG1SW-Ger, GSW & G1SP-Eng, 13-8-2-0, €709,197. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Baratti (GB), 128, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Binche, by Woodman.
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €91,440.
3–Bubble Gift (Fr), 126, c, 4, Nathaniel (Ire)–Bubble Back (Fr), by Grand Lodge.
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Zak Bloodstock; B-A Hakam (FR); T-Mikel Delzangles. €45,720.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 3. Odds: 7.90, 10.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Sweet Lady (Fr), Lone Eagle (Ire), High Definition (Ire), Mare Australis (Ire), Hurricane Lane (Ire), Third Realm (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Frankel’s Alpinista Upholds Family Tradition in Germany

Kirsten Rausing's 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) had yet to taste defeat in four prior outings this term and lined up for Sunday's G1 Allianz Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich coming back off wins in Hoppegarten's Aug. 8 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and Cologne's Sept. 26 G1 Preis von Europa last time. The homebred grey's second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao), who was also conditioned by Sir Mark Prescott, had rattled off a trio of German Group 1 triumphs in a nine-week spree during 2004 and she emulated her grandmother's feat and stayed perfect for the year with a third elite-level triumph of her own in the 12-furlong feature. The vanquished at Berlin in that penultimate start included subsequent G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and the reopposing Nerium (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who also finished second in the Preis von Europa. Alpinista recovered from an awkward stumble leaving the stalls and lobbed along under a taut rein, racing in a close-up second, passing the judge first time as old foe Nerium set the tone. In situ until turning for home, the 4-5 favourite was stoked into action for her challenge alongside G2 Prix Eugene Adam fourth Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) approaching the two pole and stayed on strongly under continued rousting in the closing stages to outlast that rival by 3/4-of-a-length in game fashion. Nerium kept on well once headed in early straight and finished one length adrift in third.

“We are absolutely delighted with the mare and winning three Group 1 races is terrific,” assistant trainer William Butler told Sport-Welt. “Alpinista has progressed throughout the year and has developed into a top-class stayer. Congratulations to Miss [Kirsten] Rausing for sending us this great horse and to Luke Morris for giving her a great ride.”

Sarah Steinberg was delighted with the progress of runner-up Mendocino. “That was a great performance today and a second-place finish is a just reward for building him up so patiently,” she told GaloppOnline. “We can be absolutely satisfied today and will definitely have a lot of fun with him next year.” Nerium's trainer Peter Schiergen added, “He ran well and his rider gave him every chance. The form of the race is solid and he will stay in training next year.”

Alpinista, kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB), is one of 20 Group 1 winners by her sire and the first foal produced by a stakes-winning half to four black-type performers out of the aforementioned Albanova (GB) (Alzao). The quartet includes G3 Legacy Cup victor Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), stakes-winning G3 Geoffrey Freer S. placegetter Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and multiple stakes winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Albanova is one of four black-type performers thrown by G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose descendants also include dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) (Alzao) and stakes-winning G1 Epsom Derby second Dragon Dancer (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Alouette is kin to G3 Doncaster Cup vixtrix Alleluia (GB) Caerleon), herself the dam of G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) (Alzao), the latter being the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill).

Sunday, Munich, Germany
ALLIANZ – GROSSER PREIS VON BAYERN-G1, €150,000, Munich, 11-7, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:38.53, g/s.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 129, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €95,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 12-7-2-0, €481,683. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mendocino (Ger), 128, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Mill Marin (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). (€58,000 RNA Ylg '19 BBAGS). O-Stall Salzburg; B-Gestut Brummerhof (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg. €30,000.
3–Nerium (Ire), 132, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Nicolaia (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger). O-Stall Nizza; B-Ursula & Jurgen Imm (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €15,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1, 1. Odds: 0.80, 6.70, 7.10.
Also Ran: Control Tower (Fr), Walkaway (Ger), Believe In Love (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Frankel’s Alpinista Downs G1 Preis von Europa Rivals

It's been a season like no other for Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud operation and, fresh on the heels of Zaaki (GB)'s cakewalk in Saturday's G1 Underwood S., the Sir Mark Prescott-conditioned 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) made it a quickfire elite-level double for the nursery, sporting her owner-breeder's colours, in Sunday's G1 59th Preis von Europa at Cologne. The February-foaled grey, second in last term's G1 Yorkshire Oaks, was unbeaten in three prior black-type starts this term and lined up as the 11-10 favourite for this latest outing returning off a G2 Lancashire Oaks win and a comfortable defeat of leading German stayer Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in Hoppegarten's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin last month. The enigmatic Quebueno (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was in reticent mood and scratched at the start after refusing to load. Alpinista was steadied off the tempo in third after passing the judge first time as Grosser Preis von Berlin fourth Nerium (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) led the way with a handy advantage from MG1SP G2 Badischen Wirtschaft winner Kaspar (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}) in second. Initiating her pursuit of the clear leader when bounced into second off the home turn, she quickened smartly to seize control approaching the furlong pole and stayed on strongly under continued urging in the closing stages to deny her old foe by 1 1/4 lengths for a second Group 1 triumph. Darius Racing's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) was doing all his best work at the finish and ran on well from off the pace to hit the line 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

“We're very happy, it's a fantastic family and thanks very much to Miss Rausing for sending us such a lovely filly,” said assistant trainer William Butler. “It's been a very lucky family for the stable, right the way back to Alborada through to Albanova, who won this race in 2004. I was here for that and this is great too. She's done everything we've asked of her this year and that's four runs and four wins. She's won two Group 1s, a Group 2 and a Listed, so we're very, very lucky to have her.” Looking ahead to possible future targets, Butler added, “Coming back to Germany [for the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern] is an option, as is the [G1 British Champions] Fillies & Mares at Ascot. It could be Munich, but we'll see. The main thing is to get her back home and make sure she's okay. With these fillies, you've just got to make sure they're in good form and they're healthy. When they are, they can do things like this.”

Alpinista, kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB), is one of 19 Group 1 winners by her sire and the first foal produced by a stakes-winning half to four stakes performers out of MG1SW distaffer Albanova (GB) (Alzao), winner of this in 2004. They include G3 Legacy Cup victor Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), stakes-winning G3 Geoffrey Freer S. placegetter Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and multiple stakes winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Albanova is one of four black-type performers thrown by stakes-winning G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose descendants also include dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) (Alzao) and stakes-winning G1 Epsom Derby second Dragon Dancer (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Alouette is kin to G3 Doncaster Cup vixtrix Alleluia (GB) Caerleon), herself the dam of G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) (Alzao), the latter being the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulians-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill)

Sunday, Cologne, Germany
59TH PREIS VON EUROPA-G1, €125,000, Cologne, 9-26, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:29.96, gd.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 129, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €70,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 11-6-2-0, €386,683. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nerium (Ire), 132, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Nicolaia (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger). O-Stall Nizza; B-Ursula & Jurgen Imm (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €28,000.
3–Sisfahan (Fr), 126, c, 3, Isfahan (Ger)–Kendalee (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€16,000 Ylg '19 ARQNOV). O-Darius Racing; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Henk Grewe. €15,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 22.40, 2.50.
Also Ran: Northern Ruler (Ger), Kaspar (Ger), Walkaway (Ger), Sea of Sands (Ger), Sunny Queen (Ger). Scratched: Quebueno (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Frankel’s Alpinista In Command In Berlin

Coping with easy ground well enough to record a workmanlike success in the G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last time July 3, Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) relished the slicker surface available at a sun-baked Hoppegarten to continue her owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing's annus mirabilis by garnering Sunday's G1 Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin. Settled fourth early by Luke Morris as Godolphin's G2 Dubai City of Gold scorer Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) cut out the running, the 19-5 shot was launched in early straight to swamp her neighbour passing the 300-metre marker. Pulling clear on the run to the line, the grey had an authoritative 2 3/4-length margin to spare over last year's winner and 9-5 favourite Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) there, with Walton Street ending up third a length away. “I was very pleased with her, she stays really, really well,” trainer Sir Mark Prescott said. “She wasn't going particularly well early on, turning in she was perhaps going less well than anything but for two but she stuck on really well and I was enormously pleased with her.”

Alpinista was emulating the achievement of her second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) in registering a top-level victory in Germany and she has two more to annexe to match the treble achieved by her predecessor in the 2004 G1 Deutschlandpreis, G1 Rheinland-Pokal and G1 Preis von Europa. She is certainly capable of that based on all known evidence since bursting onto the scene a year ago with a clear-cut success on firm going in Salisbury's 10-furlong Listed Upavon Fillies' S. a week prior to chasing home Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when second in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. Kept at this mile-and-a-half trip thereafter, she was a touch below-par when runner-up in the G3 Princess Royal S. at Newmarket on her 3-year-old finale in September and also when gaining a narrow verdict in the Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies' S. at Goodwood on her return Apr. 30. Even in the Lancashire Oaks, where the soft ground was against her, she was unconvincing dealing with the 3-year-old Lady Hayes (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) but this tour de force confirmed her effectiveness when conditions are right.

“Obviously Miss Rausing has a big say in it, but I think we have probably sort of earmarked the [G1] Preis Von Europa at Cologne on September 26 and we'll just see if something comes in between,” Prescott added. “She had Albanova with me a few years ago, Albanova won this and that race, so we might follow the same pattern because of course they are very closely related. It's just interesting that she should follow in the hoofprints. She stays really well this filly, she would go a bit further if we had to.”

Kirsten Rausing commented, “In numerical terms, it's my best season so far. That's 23 winners in my own colours to date and that is the same as my best ever year, which was 2011, but obviously that was by the end of the season. Out of the 23 wins, we have eight black-type wins this year: a group 1, two group 2s, a group 3 and four listeds. It's fantastic, all my ships are coming in, it happens every 25 years or so.”

Of Alpinista, she added, “We always thought she was pretty good. She's possibly improved from three to four, but the ability was always there from her two-year-old days. I think she's very typical of the family in that she is very brave. Her illustrious ancestress Albanova, her granddam, could do the same, and of course her own sister Alborada was particularly brave, only small, but very brave. Alpinista is longer–physically to look at she perhaps isn't as beautiful as some of them, but I'm absolutely not in any way denigrating her!”

“The main job is done now. It's a lot to ask of her to run in the Yorkshire Oaks again,” she concluded. “The journey to Berlin is long, it's two days in either direction, so I wouldn't mind letting her have a break, but she will tell us what she wants to do, I'm sure. She is not an easy mare to mate externally, being by Frankel, but of course I have just the right horse for her at home, Study of Man, but we won't decide about that until she's run her last race.”

Alpinista, who becomes Frankel's 18th group 1 winner, is the first foal out of Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) who raced for these connections and gained her black-type success in this country in the Listed Silbernes Band over two mile and an extended three furlongs. She is one of four black-type winners out of the aforementioned Albanova including the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup scorer Algometer (GB) (Archipenko) and the triple listed scorer All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The listed-winning third dam Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who is best known for producing Albanova's full-sister Alborada (GB) who provided these connections with two renewals of the G1 Champion S., is kin to the G3 Doncaster Cup winner Alleluia (GB) Caerleon). She is the dam of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) also by Alzao who in turn was responsible for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulians hero and sire Aussie Rules. Alwilda's unraced 2-year-old filly by Kendargent (Fr) named Alpenblume (GB) is also in training with Prescott, while she is in foal to Iffraaj (GB).

Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany
LONGINES 131ST GROSSER PREIS VON BERLIN-G1, €155,000, Hoppegarten, 8-8, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:29.48, gd.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 129, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 10-5-2-0, €316,683. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Torquator Tasso (Ger), 132, c, 4, Adlerflug (Ger)–Tijuana (Ger), by Toylsome (GB). (€24,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-Gestut Auenquelle; B-Paul H Vandeberg (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €30,000.
3–Walton Street (GB), 132, g, 7, Cape Cross (Ire)–Brom Felinity (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €15,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1, 2. Odds: 3.80, 1.80, 2.70.
Also Ran: Nerium (Ire), Imi (Ger), Sunny Queen (Ger), Aff Un Zo (Ger), Kaspar (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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