Sea The Stars’ Teona Downs Snowfall in Paris

One of the also rans when Coolmore's Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) posted her 16-length rout in the G1 Epsom Oaks, Ali Saeed's 3-year-old filly Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) enjoyed a confidence-boosting score in last month's Listed August S. at Windsor and the 18-1 chance caused a major upset to down the reopposoing 1-5 favourite in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp. The 280,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling raced in third for most of this 12-furlong contest as Snowfall's stablemate La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) set the tempo under Hollie Doyle. Coming under pressure soon after turning for home, she was ridden to gain a narrow advantage approaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly as Snowfall failed to deliver with her usual gusto. At the line, the winning margin was 1 1/2 lengths with the rallying pacesetter La Joconde keeping on resolutely to finish a half length adrift in third.

“It was a very strong race today, but we've always believed this filly to be high class and we're very happy she won,” commented trainer Roger Varian. “The first half of the season didn't really work out for her, so we gave her a break and she's done well since. She's matured, she's been excellent in training at home and we were confident of a good performance and hopeful of a win. She ran at York in the [G3] Musidora over 10 furlongs, but was very fresh that day. She wasn't that well behaved, but still ran a good race behind Snowfall. She then went to the [G1 Epsom] Oaks where the ground was heavy and had a hard race, which took a lot out of her. She didn't enjoy it and is a filly who likes a sound surface. She's a big-framed filly, we had to give her time and I'd like to thank owner Ali Saeed for being very patient.”

Next month's Oct. 3 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe looms large on the horizon and Varian will take his time before confirming connections' plans. “We'll see how she is in her training at home over the next one or two week,” he added. “The Arc is under consideration, of course, and we'd like the sun to keep shining, but it's very important to see what her condition is beforehand. We'll speak with the owner and see what he wants to do.”

Bemoaning a perceived lack of urgency on the front end, rider Frankie Dettori sought to explain the first reversal of Snowfall's sophomore campaign and said, “I found myself too far from the front end and I think the pacemaker [La Joconde] didn't go fast enough. The race turned into a sprint and the winner kicked on first. The other filly has more speed than Snowfall and that's what made the difference.”

Teona, who becomes the 16th top-level winner for her sire, is the second runner and second pattern-race winner out of the smart Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). Ambivalent's five victories include G1 Pretty Polly S. and G2 Middleton S. wins. She also ran third in the G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and her first produce is G2 Prix Hocquart victor Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Ambivalent is the leading performer out of Listed Aphrodite S. runner-up Darrery (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), herself the second dam of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp hero Total Gallery (Ire) (Namid {GB}). Teona's third dam Flamenco (Dance Spell) annexed the G3 Waterford Candelabra S. and is kin to Listed White Rose S. victrix and stakes producer Portio (Riva Ridge). The March-foaled bay, who hails from the family of Listed Debonair S. victor and leading sire Claim (Mr. Prospector), is full to a weanling colt and half to a 2-year-old colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:31.99, gd.
1–TEONA (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Ambivalent (Ire), by Authorized (Ire)
2nd Dam: Darrery (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Flamenco, by Dance Spell
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (280,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Ali Saeed; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Olivier Peslier. €342,840. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Eng, 7-4-1-1, €382,363. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Snowfall (Jpn), 122, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Best In The World (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Roncon, Chelston Ire & Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien. €137,160.
3–La Joconde (Ire), 122, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Wadyhatta (GB), Cape Cross (Ire) (850,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €68,580.
Margins: 1HF, HF, SNK. Odds: 17.90, 0.20, 46.00.
Also Ran: Burgarita (GB), Incarville (Fr), Philomene (Ire), Joan of Arc (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Siyouni’s Acer Alley Prevails in the Rochette

Largely unconsidered as the 26-1 outsider of six, Merry Fox Stud's homebred 2-year-old filly Acer Alley (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) created waves with a late burst for glory in Sunday's G3 Prix La Rochette at ParisLongchamp. She had previously bettered a June 11 first-up fourth going seven furlongs at Compiegne with a June 21 Saint-Cloud maiden score over the same trip in her only other start last time and raced fifth of the six runners from flagfall here. Nudged into contention with 500 metres remaining, Acer Alley came under increased pressure once inside the final quarter mile and displayed a smart turn of foot in the closing stages to swoop late for a career high. At the line, Acer Alley held a half-length advantage from Making Moovies (Ire) (Dabirsim {Fr}), who edged out British raider El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by a short neck for second, and will now point to next month's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac for her next outing.

“The idea was to go to the [G3] Prix Six Perfections in Deauville, after she won at Saint-Cloud last time, but I felt she was not quite ready for that race,” revealed winning trainer Francis Graffard. “She just needed more time and the owner [Craig Bennett] trusted my judgement. She came back right again and had been working very well at home, but you never know what might happen on the track as this was only her third career start and facing colts for the first time. We thought we had to give it a try to see if we had any chance of going for a Group 1 on Arc weekend. The owner is a breeder, he would love to win the [G1] Prix Marcel Boussac and, if she's well, we will go for that.”

Acer Alley becomes the second pattern-race winner produced by an unraced half-sister to the Merry Fox Stud operation's G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Cursory Glance (GB) (Distorted Humor). The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to last term's GI Turf Classic hero Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})–himself a 325,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling in 2017–and a weanling colt by Dubawi (Ire). Her second dam Time Control (GB) (Sadler's Wells) is a full-sister to G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Time On (GB), who threw G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Mot Juste (Distorted Humor). Time Control, in turn, is a daughter of G3 Musidora S. victrix and and G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. third Time Away (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), herself a granddaughter of MG1SW distaffer Time Charter (Ire) (Saritamer).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA ROCHETTE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-5, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.04, g/s.
1–ACER ALLEY (GB), 122, f, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Willow View, by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Time Control (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Time Away (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (180,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT). O/B-Merry Fox Stud Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Olivier Peslier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €56,200. *1/2 to Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), GISW-US, $1,263,460. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Making Moovies (Ire), 126, c, 2, Dabirsim (Fr)–Grace Lady (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). O-Ecurie Pierre Pilarski & Jean-Philippe Dubois; B-Jean-Philippe Dubois (IRE); T-Didier Guillemin. €16,000.
3–El Bodegon (Ire), 126, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Al Andalyya, by Kingmambo. (70,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Nas Syndicate & A F O'Callaghan; B-Cecil & Martin McCracken (IRE); T-James Ferguson. €12,000.
Margins: HF, SNK, 1 1/4. Odds: 25.90, 4.10, 16.00.
Also Ran: New Science (GB), The Wizard of Eye (Ire), Zelda (Fr). Scratched: Rebel Path (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Olivier Peslier to Ride Wonderful Tonight in the Arc

Former French champion jockey Olivier Peslier will ride multiple Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, her trainer David Menuisier announced on Tuesday. The regular rider of the bay is William Buick, who will most likely be aboard one of Godolphin's duo of Classic winners Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) or Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the ParisLongchamp cornerstone.

“I think he is one of the best in the business,” said Menuisier of the veteran Frenchman. “He has the experience on his side, and he's ridden the filly as a 2-year-old when he won on her at Saint-Cloud.

“The plan was to keep him on last year. But I think it was a fracture of the jaw that sidelined him, so when she went to Longchamp [initially for the Prix de Thiberville last July] I had to use somebody else.

“Tony Piccone rode her–and because he rode her well, we kept the continuity. But Tony Piccone has gone to Hong Kong, and won't be back until October–and we felt it would be better to use somebody who, first of all, won the Arc several times. He's also ridden [in France] all year, and knows Longchamp like the back of his hand.”

Added the trainer, who is hoping to use Peslier in Wonderful Tonight's Arc prep races too, “I've known Olivier for 10 years. He's a friend, and I trust him 110% to do the job. Who wouldn't be keen [to ride Wonderful Tonight]? She has a live chance–well, we feel she's a live chance, in the Arc. Obviously he's delighted to have been called up.”

The 4-year-old filly is riding a four-racing winning streak, having triumphed in the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. at Goodwood on July 31. Her winning thread started with a 1 1/4-length victory in the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp on Arc Day and continued in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. on Oct. 17. Resuming at Royal Ascot, Wonderful Tonight added the G2 Hardwicke S. to her haul on June 19.

Although her next targets have not been confirmed, the Aug. 19 G1 Yorkshire Oaks is a possibility and Peslier is likely to be aboard Menuisier's star pupil regardless of which contest is selected.

“It's part of the plan,” added Menuisier. “He's made himself available to ride the filly wherever she goes.

“Thinking of the big one down the line, I think it would be good if he could have sat on her at least once and, in an ideal world, twice before the Arc.

“I don't want the filly to have too many hard battles before the big day–so she'll get to the race as fresh as she can, knowing that we're not having a summer break.”

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Adlerflug’s In Swoop On Top at Chantilly

Fresh from a comfortable victory in ParisLongchamp's May 13 Prix d'Hedouville, last term's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was obliged to work somewhat harder for success in Sunday's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. Gestut Schlenderhan's 4-year-old, who also ran second in September's rescheduled G1 Grand Prix de Paris, was settled off a sedate tempo in fifth–with just the slow-starting Nagano Gold (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) in arrears–past halfway in this 12-furlong test. Tanking forward to take closer order on the home turn, the 3-5 pick was nudged along for his challenge approaching the two pole and kept on strongly under continued rousting once gaining a narrow advantage passing the furlong marker to deny Prix d'Hedouville third Sublimis (Ire) (Shamardal) and last term's G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Vaucelles (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) by a half length and a neck.

“It was a tactical race as everyone could see and there was no pace or rhythm, which was definitely not in his favour,” said trainer Francis Graffard. “Olivier [Peslier] did well to cover all moves by going forward on the final turn and it was only then that I felt that he had everything under control. He'll never win in spectacular fashion or by a wide margin, but he's getting stronger and stronger. He's certainly more professional in all that he does, his last race did him the world of good and there is more to come. He's entered in all the big races and will head to the [G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and [G1] King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. [at Ascot]. We'll give him a break after that and he'll come back for an autumn campaign with the [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe] in mind.”

In Swoop, half-brother to a 2021 Highland Reel (Ire) filly, is one of three pattern-race winners and the leading performer produced by G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Iota (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), who is also the dam of In Swoop's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern-winning full-brother Ito (Ger) and Group 3 victrix Igraine (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}). Iota is herself kin to G3 Grand Prix Premiere Aufgalopp victor Illo (Ger), G1 Preis von Europa third Ioannina (GB) (Rainbow Quest) and to the dam of G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft victor Itobo (Ger) (Areion {Ger}). In Swoop's second dam Iora (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}) is the sole produce out of Listed Festa-Rennen runner-up Incitation (Be My Guest), who in turn is a daughter of Listed Fruhjahrs Stutenpreis victrix Iberica (Ger) (Green Dancer). Descendants of the latter include G2 German 2000 Guineas hero Irian (Ger) (Tertullian) and GSW G1 Preis von Europa runner-up Ibicenco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), with this being the dam line of G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Idrissa (Ger) (Tamerlane {GB}).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
GRAND PRIX DE CHANTILLY-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 6-6, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:45.37, sf.
1–IN SWOOP (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Iota (Ger), by Tiger Hill (Ire)
2nd Dam: Iora (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger)
3rd Dam: Incitation (Ger), by Be My Guest
O-Gestut Schlenderhan; B-Stall Ullmann (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Olivier Peslier. €74,100. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, G1SW-Ger & MG1SP-Fr, 8-3-3-1, €1,398,630. *Full to Ito (Ger), Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 11-14f, G1SW-Ger & GSP-Fr, $321,458; and 1/2 to Igraine (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW-NZ, SW & MGSP-Aus, $218,379; and Iniciar (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sublimis (Ire), 126, g, 5, Shamardal–Be Fabulous (Ger), by Samum (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Vaucelles (Fr), 122, f, 4, Le Havre (Ire)–Vaunoise (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €13,650.
Margins: HF, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 3.60, 3.80.
Also Ran: Lord Achilles (Fr), Nagano Gold (GB), Influx (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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