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Saint-Alary Loses G1 Tag as Europe Drops 12 Stakes Races

Twelve fewer black-type races will be run in Europe in 2024 following the approval of the programme by the European Pattern Committee (EPC) which sounded a note of caution regarding “the reported increasing exports of quality horses overseas”.

France's Prix Saint-Alary will has been downgraded from Group 1 to Group 2 status and is one of five Group races to have been demoted, while Britain's G3 Sovereign S., traditionally run at Salisbury, will not be staged.

In Ireland, the Salsabil S. has been upgraded from a Listed race to a Group 3, and a new Listed contest has been introduced at Gowran Park in late July, which is to be run over 12 furlongs and is for three-year-olds only.

Denmark is to stage a new black-type race after Klampenborg's Golden Mile for three-years-olds was upgraded to Listed status.

The EPC ratified a total of 826 black-type races, down from 838 in 2023, comprising 415 Group races (418 in 2023) and 411 Listed races (420).

EPC chair Jason Morris said, “This year will see another contraction in the number of Pattern and Listed races to be staged throughout Europe, with the total number having declined from 852 races in 2022 to 826 in 2024. The European Pattern Committee continues to enforce the most stringent international quality control measures so that the racing and breeding industries can have the utmost confidence in the quality of European black type.

“However, this also reflects a worrying overall decline in the ratings of European black-type races, with an increasing number of races coming under review and many three-year-old races in particular struggling to achieve their required parameters. The reported increasing exports of quality horses overseas is of concern to the EPC, and the major European racing nations are committed to working together to ensure the continued production and retention of sufficient high-class horses to sustain our domestic and international programmes, with a particular focus on the middle distance and staying race areas.”

Downgraded Races for 2024

France

• Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary downgraded to Group 2

Germany

• Listed Grosser Preis von Rossman loses Listed status

• Listed Grosser Preis der VGH Versicherungen loses Listed status

• Listed Bwin Sommerpreis loses Listed status

Ireland

• Group 3 Gladness downgraded to Listed

• Listed Patton loses Listed status

Italy

• Group 2 Premio Presidente della Repubblica downgraded to Group 3

• Group 3 Premio Carlo d'Alessio downgraded to Listed

• Listed Pisa loses Listed status

• Listed Regione Toscana loses Listed status

• Listed Emanuele Filiberto loses Listed status

• Listed Tadolina loses Listed status

• Listed Criterium Varesino Mem Virginio Curti loses Listed status

• Listed M.Se Ippolito Fassati di Balzola loses Listed status

Sweden

• Listed Jagersro Sprint loses Listed status

Turkey

• Group 2 Bosphorus Cup downgraded to Group 3

There have also been some adjustments to notable Pattern races. In France, the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud will move one week earlier, reverting to its traditional slot at Saint-Cloud's fixture on June 30, as will the G2 Prix Eugene Adam. Saint-Cloud has also gained the G1 Prix Royal-Oak from ParisLongchamp.

Both German Guineas will be run nine days earlier, with the G2 German 2000 Guineas scheduled for May 20 and the G2 German 1000 Guineas to be run on May 26. The G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft will be pushed back to June 2.

In Britain, there have been alterations to the race conditions for two black-type juvenile races. For the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, horses will no longer be eligible to qualify via their dam's performance. The race reverts to a stallion-only qualification, as was the case prior to 2019. The horse's sire must have won over at least 10 furlongs. In the G3 Acomb S., the win restriction has been removed from the race conditions to boost the potential pool of eligible horses.

There will also be two changes to race titles in Britain in 2024: Haydock's G3 Pinnacle S. will be renamed as the Lester Piggott S., and the Listed Ben Marshall S. at Nottingham will become the Robin Hood S.

'At Risk' Races for 2025

A total of 42 Pattern and Listed races have been classified as at risk of a potential downgrade in 2025, including the G1 Commonwealth Cup, run over six furlongs for three-year-olds only at Royal Ascot. The breakdown by country is as follows:

Britain – 3
France – 6
Germany – 7
Ireland – 5
Italy – 20
Turkey – 1

Britain's Dismay at Group 1 Veto

In Britain, “notable increases to minimum values” have been announced for Pattern and Listed races, while the ongoing strategic review of the programme has led to the voluntary deletion of three black-type races for 2024 – the G3 Sovereign S., York's Listed Ganton S. and the Listed Scarborough S., which is run at Doncaster. This follows the removal of 11 Group 3 and Listed races in 2023.

The BHA Flat Pattern Committee had sought upgrades to Group 1 status for the City Of York S. at the Ebor Festival and the Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day, both of which were turned down by the EPC.

“After more than a decade of building towards Britain's first 7f Group 1 in the City Of York Stakes, with the open encouragement of the EPC, the race achieved the required rating parameter in 2023,” said Ruth Quinn, the BHA's director of international racing and development.

“Sadly, however, it seemed the committee could not support this upgrade unanimously at this time. We remain hopeful of working with the committee to demonstrate why our ambition would be of collective benefit to the European Pattern, in the same way as we will for the Long Distance Cup on QIPCO's British Champions Day in order for that too to become a long-awaited and much-deserved Group 1 race.”

She continued, “We in Britain continue to believe that European racing is stronger on the worldwide stage when we work together.

“The Pattern Committees have much to contribute within the wider strategy for the sport, particularly in terms of incentivising the continued production and retention of sufficient high-class horses to uphold our place on the international stage. The particular focus on the middle-distance and staying horses must continue – an area which the FPC has helped champion for some time as has been highlighted in the past.

“Our Pattern remains strong, but there are some distinct signs of fraying in certain areas and the industry needs to address these with some urgency.”

As already noted, the G1 Commonwealth Cup has been placed on the watch list for a potential downgrade, depending on its performance this year, along with the G2 Temple S. at Haydock Park and the G3 Chester Vase.

France Frustrated by Saint-Alary Demotion

Despite its move forward in the calendar last year to “Poules d'Essai Sunday”, which brought about an upturn in the number of runners to 10 from six the previous year, the Prix Saint-Alary obtained a rating of just 107.75 in 2023. From 2021 to 2023 its average was 108.42, which is below the required rating of 111 for a Group 1 for three-year-old fillies.

In a press release from France Galop, deputy managing director Henri Pouret said, “The demotion of the Prix Saint-Alary to Group 2 is particularly frustrating but it falls within the framework of the quality control rules established by the EPC. This event should lead us to reflect broadly on the subject of Listed and Group races which have not reached the required level in recent years. To this end, the President of France Galop, Guillaume de Saint-Seine, recently decided to create a specific Committee for French Group and Listed races.”

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Aga Khan Filly Tops Second Straight Session at Arqana

One day after the Aga Khan-bred and -consigned Shahnameh (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) topped the proceedings at the Arqana Vente d'Elevage, another of the operation's 3-year-old filly was the star turn in Deauville, as the unraced Vazzana (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was knocked down for €120,000 to lead the way during the penultimate session of the auction.

Catalogued at lot 716, the bay filly is a daughter of Vazira (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), winner of three of her six career starts, including the 2014 G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp one start after taking the G3 Prix Vanteaux at her second career run. The female family also includes fellow Prix Saint-Alary heroine Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain), the dam of Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and SW/MGSP Vedouma (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}); and G1 Prix du Moulin winner Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}).

“She's a lovely mare,” said Katie Rudd, who signed the ticket on behalf of Busherstown. “She'll come back to Ireland. It's the first time I've bought at the Vente d'Elevage–the market is strong.”

Trainnah (GB), a daughter of the influential Pivotal (GB), fetched €55,000 from Jamie Piggott Bloodstock to rank as the session's second-dearest offering. Consigned by Haras de Castillon, the 9-year-old mare is a half-sister to the dual group-winning James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and to the dam of SW & MGSP Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Trainnah's dam Whazzat (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) is a half-sister to the dam of US champion turf female Uni (GB) (More Than Ready). Trainnah was sold in foal to Ectot (GB).

Nearly four out of every five horses (217) offered during Monday's session were reported as sold for gross turnover of €2,540,000. The average of €11,704 improved by 12.77% over last year, while the median price of €8,500 represented a gain of 21.4%.

Entering Tuesday's final session, 613 horses have changed hands for €56,099,500. The average of €91,516 and median of €26,000 are well ahead of last year's numbers.

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Sibila Spain A Group 1 First For Head

The name Head appears multiple times in the winning trainer category on the Prix Saint-Alary roll of honour. Alec, Criquette and Freddy have all trained winners of the fillies' Group 1, and the latter also rode the winner, usually for his father or his sister, on seven occasions.

In the line-up for the 2021 running of the Saint-Alary next Monday is likely to be a filly trained by one of the next generation of the Head family, Christopher, a son of Freddy, who has taken the bold decision to supplement the unbeaten Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) for her first outing in Pattern company, straight to the very top level.

Head is now in his second full season with a training licence and has his Chantilly team based in the stable still owned by John Hammond alongside the town's famous Les Aigles turf gallops. That his team of around 14 horses enters the training grounds daily via the Porte Montjeu is an indication of at least one of the champions that has trodden that path before them, and it is not lost on Head.

He says, “Suave Dancer and a lot of very good horses that John trained have been in the same places and I hope it rubs off on this filly, too.”

Sibila Spain is one of two horses in his stable owned by Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals of Yeguada Centurion. The Spanish businessman's equine interests began in the sport horse world with native Andalusians, but in recent years he has made quite a splash as an investor in Thoroughbred racing, notably spending more than $3 million on mares at Keeneland's November Sale in 2019, as well as making significant purchases in Europe. One of those was the Coolmore-bred Frankel filly out of the listed winner L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), now known as Sibila Spain. She is a full-sister to Group 3 winner Master Of Reality (Ire) and half to listed winner Chamonix (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and her immediate family already includes a Saint-Alary winner–her dam's full-sister Cerulean Sky (Ire)–while the mare's half-sister Moonstone (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) won the Irish Oaks.

It is a pedigree which entitles both owner and trainer to dream big, and that is exactly what they are doing, though it is no pipe dream. Sibila Spain made her racecourse debut in the Prix Monade at Saint-Cloud on Mar. 25 in a race replete with bluebloods. At the winning post she was nine lengths clear of the runner-up. Three weeks later, the ground at Lyon Parilly was good to soft, rather than the heavy turf she encountered in Paris, but she finished out in front again over the 2,200 metres. In the process she did nothing to alter the impression that she is a filly just waiting to have her name stamped in bold black type.

Head casts his mind back to his own early impressions of the filly who arrived in his stable on Feb. 2. He says, “She changed a lot through the first month and then I had the chance to work her with some of the good horses of my father and she was going a lot better than them. She showed enough for me to feel that she could start out in a good race. Most of the later-developing fillies that are going for the Diane start in that maiden. So we were already expecting her to run well, but we were against big trainers, big owners. Although I thought she would be able to win I didn't think it would be by that far. That was the real surprise, the number of lengths she was from the others.”

He continues, “We needed those few races to know her better and I have the feeling that she is coming to the Saint-Alary in the perfect shape and with the perfect timing. Since the race in Lyon I feel she has really improved and that's why I think it is the right thing to do. She probably is better in the soft ground, and that should be perfect for the Saint-Alary on Monday as it's soft now and we are expecting more rain through the week.”

Head, a fifth-generation Chantilly horseman from a family with English roots, is not the only trainer in France with a horse for Yeguada Centurion. The Spanish-born but French-based Mauricio Delcher Sanchez trains Reina Madre (Ire) (Kingman{GB}), the winner of the G3 Prix Imprudence in April who subsequently finished down the field in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Head is naturally delighted to welcome a major owner to his fledgling stable, and Sibila Spain has been joined by the owner's homebred 2-year-old Ready To Win (Ire) (More Than Ready), who was in utero when her dam Miss Melbourne (Fr) (Kentucky Dynamite) was bought by Fernandez Pujals for 300,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sale.

The trainer's introduction to the owner came through his cousin several years ago. Head says, “I met him at a lunch in Deauville and he had started the project of buying some black-type mares and breeding his own Thoroughbreds in France. He is doing everything he can to make it succeed and has invested a lot of money. He's really a brilliant man and it's a pleasure to deal with him. Unfortunately he can't come to France for the Saint-Alary as it is still difficult to travel, but he is very excited about the filly.”

Fernandez Pujals is not the only one entitled to be excited. A filly with stakes potential is enough to put a spring in the step of any small trainer, particularly one who is a relatively new licence-holder.

Head laughs as she says, “Of course I am not taking any risks right now to say that she is the best horse I have trained in my life.” But as he speaks the excitement which must be growing in his stable is almost palpable.

He adds, “I am very, very happy with her. I know we are coming from a Class 1 at Lyon and we haven't competed against the group horses, but it's not just the results from her races, she is showing me good things in the mornings and so I expect her to be able to win the Saint-Alary. Her behaviour and temperament has been very good going into the races and that's why we are looking at this race, and the Prix de Diane if she's right after the Saint-Alary.”

The trainer nevertheless describes himself as cautious as the number of horses in his stable rises “slowly but surely”.

“I'm having so much fun. It is my passion but I want to make sure I am working with the right people who I can trust,” he says.

All being well, Sibila Spain will be added to the Prix Saint-Alary line-up at the supplementary stage this Thursday and, come race day, will renew her acquaintance with Aurelien Lemaitre, who has ridden her in her two wins.

“We won't change the jockey,” Head says. “I've been raised by a jockey and he always told me that it's not their fault when a race goes wrong. Most of the time it is the fault of the trainer rather than the jockey. Aurelien is a very good jockey and we grew up together as I was working at my father's place when he was apprenticed there, so it is really good now to be running in a group race together.”

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