Alenquer’s Connections ‘Keen’ To Enter Colt In Arc De Triomphe

The connections of the British 3-year-old colt Alenquer have been toying with the idea of a crack at the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe since the spring. Armando Duarte, the racing manager of the colt's owners, MM Stables, has subsequently confirmed, via the Racing Post, that the colt will line-up at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, Oct. 3.

He said: “The owners, Mubarak Alarou and Mussad Almutari, are keen to have a crack at the Arc as Alenquer is a mile-and-a-half horse, and he will handle any eventual cut in the ground. He's been in good shape since York. Obviously, it's a tough assignment but we're hopeful that he'll run a nice race.”

Alenquer is a colt with an international dimension. As his owners hail from Kuwait and he is trained in Britain, or Newmarket to be precise, by William Haggas. Furthermore, his breeders, the Gestüt Romerhof, are German. He was born and reared in France, and notably in Normandy, as he bears the hallmark of the La Motteraye Consignment.

Alenquer is unraced since his second place in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Aug. 18, when he finished six lengths adrift of Mishriff. The latter is a possible Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender. He had previously finished third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 12 furlongs at ParisLongchamp, won by one of the leading fancies for this year's Arc, Hurricane Lane.

Another formline also ties Alenquer in with another leading Arc fancy: as he beat Adayar in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown in April. Adayar has since franked the form by winning both the Epsom Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (both G1s). The latter race also rejoices in the reputation of being the British equivalent of the Arc.

Alenquer is quoted at odds varying from 25-1 to 40-1 by the bookmakers for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The post Alenquer’s Connections ‘Keen’ To Enter Colt In Arc De Triomphe appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Arqana Arc Sale Catalogue Revealed

A total of 40 horses-in-training, 31 of which have already earned black-type, have been catalogued to go under the hammer at Arqana's Arc Sale on Saturday, Oct. 2. Among the select lots on offer is Colosseo (Street Boss) (lot 38), who was runner-up in the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains to five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and holds an entry in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret. Other horses sure to generate plenty of interest are: G3 Prix de la Force winner Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) (lot 4); G3 Prix Psyche winner Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 11), who carries an entry to the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Opera; lot 28, Reine d'Amour (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who won the G3 Sparkasse Holstein-Cup in Germany; and Group 3 winners Saiydabad (Blame) (lot 32) and Bellharbour Music (Mshawish) (lot 37).

In 2020, the Arc Sale, which had a smaller catalogue due to the pandemic, grossed €3,050,000 for 11 horses. The average was €277,273 and the median was €260,000.

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Kizuna’s Deep Bond Strikes For Japan in the Foy

It's been quite a while since El Condor Pasa (Kingmambo), Deep Impact (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) and Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) strutted their stuff around the Bois de Boulogne and Japan has a new globetrotter to laud after Shinji Maeda's Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) rolled back the years and made all to win Sunday's G2 Qatar Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp. Last year's G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai and this year's G2 Hanshin Daishoten winner, who ran second in May's G1 Tenno Sho in his most recent start, was the sharpest of six into stride and seized an immediate lead in the 12-furlong Arc trial won by El Condor Pasa and twice by Orfevre in the past. Holding sway with an uncontested lead throughout, he was rowed along to shake off his closest pursuer Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in early straight and maintained a high tempo under continued urging inside the final quarter mile to comfortably hold that chaperone by 1 1/2 lengths. Jean-Claude Seroul's 7-5 favourite Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) employed his usual hold-up tactics in rear, but was unable to land a blow on the protagonists and finished a well-beaten fourth.

“He's quite a big horse and weighs approximately 500 kilograms, but he is light on his feet and has a very smooth action,” explained winning trainer Ryuji Okubo. When he races in Japan, he usually comes from behind because there is more rhythm to the races there. We wanted to make the running today to make sure he was in the optimum rhythm and the jockey [Cristian Demuro] managed that perfectly well. He had not raced for over four months, so I imagine there is plenty of room for improvement and he will most definitely come on for the run.”

Looking ahead to future options and with a chance to shine where the aforementioned trio stuttered, the trainer added, “We will give him an easy time next week and we will then have two weeks to build him up to the Arc. He'll be a vastly improved horse by then and we'll be very proud to run him in that race. I'll be staying in France for the next three weeks to oversee his preparations.”

Deep Bond is the third, and best, of five foals and as many runners to date out of the multiple winner Zephyranthes (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}), herself kin to the dam of MG1SW Japanese champion sprinter Laurel Guerreiro (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}), G3 Kisaragi Sho runner-up Rikisan Max (Jpn) (King Halo {Jpn}) and G3 Kyoto Sho Fantasy S. placegetter Amazing Moon (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}). The latter, in turn, produced G3 Radio Nikkei Sho third North Bridge (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). The February-foaled dark bay shares his third dam Mogami Point (Jpn) (Maruzensky {Jpn}) with Listed Marguerite S. runner-up Ojono Kiseki (Jpn) (Kinshas No Kiseki {Aus}). Deep Bond is a half-brother to the once placed 3-year-old colt Drummondii (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn) and the winning 2-year-old colt Sparta Leonidas (Jpn) (Henny Hughes).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX FOY-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-12, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:31.82, gd.
1–DEEP BOND (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Kizuna (Jpn)
1st Dam: Zephyranthes (Jpn), by King Halo (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Mogami Hime (Jpn), by Cacoethes
3rd Dam: Mogami Point (Jpn), by Maruzensky (Jpn)
O-Shinji Maeda; B-Bokujo Murata (JPN); T-Ryuji Okubo; J-Cristian Demuro. €74,100. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Jpn, 13-4-2-1, €2,010,074. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. ClicSk for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Broome (Ire), 127, h, 5, Australia (GB)–Sweepstake (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (€120,000 RNA Ylg '17 GOFOR; 150,000gns Ylg '17 TATDEY). O-Masaaki Matsushima, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,600.
3–Iresine (Fr), 128, g, 4, Manduro (Ger)–Inanga (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). (€6,000 Ylg '18 AROCT). O-Bertrand Milliere, Ecurie Jean-Paul Gauvin, Christian Goutelle & Jean-Pierre Gauvin; B-Pierre Soyaux & Marie-Louise van Dedem (FR); T-Jean-Pierre Gauvin. €13,650.
Margins: 1HF, 1 3/4, 3HF. Odds: 8.50, 2.30, 5.60.
Also Ran: Skalleti (Fr), Sublimis (Ire), Opasan (Ire). Scratched: Wonderful Tonight (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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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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