The 37-10 third favourite, who shed maiden status at Great Yarmouth in September before winning the Listed Bosra Sham S., was positioned second in the far-side group and raced in an overall fifth through halfway in this seven-furlong distaffers' Guineas trial. Looming large out wide with 300 metres remaining, she quickened to the fore entering the final furlong and kept on strongly under stern urging to withstand the late rally of Ramatuelle by a half-length for a career high. Last term's G3 Prix Miesque victrix and long-time leader Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) provided solidity to the form and finished another half-length adrift in third.

“We had a nice race, but she was a bit fresh early,” reflected William Buick. “She's quite speedy, she has a good turn of foot and used it at the finish. It was a good performance and she'll have to go up to a mile now. She's a good filly and, hopefully, she'll keep progressing.”

Charlie Appleby is very much leaning in the direction of Paris and ruled out any temptation to remain at home for Romantic Style's next start. “I don't think she'd see out the mile [of the 1,000 Guineas] at Newmarket, so we thought we'd be better off coming here as it gives her more time between now and the [G1 Poule d'Essai des] Pouliches. She's got natural pace in her pedigree, but she gives herself a chance to stay the mile and that will be the aim. What I loved about today is she did everything the right way around. She travelled and she travelled sensibly in behind horses. When she picked up I felt she was always doing enough to stay in front.”

Christopher Head was far from downcast after the defeat of G1 Prix Morny second Ramatuelle and confirmed next month's G1 1,000 Guineas remains the number one target. “You always have worries when you are not sure if they have trained on from two to three and that was a very positive return. On such [deep] ground you can easily sink after doing too much too early, but she kept finding again at the end. That was most encouraging and, if all is well, we shall stick to the plan and go to Newmarket for the  1,000 [Guineas].”

Tamfana's trainer David Menuisier has yet to commit to a specific target, but it will be a Classic route for the third-place finisher. “That was a very good reintroduction for her. It is not easy to make all like that from the centre of the track. We have now to decide if we go to Newmarket for the Guineas or Longchamp for the French equivalent.”

One for the boys in blue!

Romantic Style grinds it out under William Buick for Charlie Appleby and sees off Ramatuelle in the G3 Prix Imprudence at @fgdeauville… pic.twitter.com/htjjuzOwKl

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 9, 2024

Pedigree Notes

Romantic Style is the second foal and black-type scorer out of G3 Prix Miesque winner Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead), herself a daughter of G3 Prix Cleopatre third Excellent Girl (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Descendants of Excellent Girl, who is a half-sister to G3 R A Lee S. victor Fastnet Tempest (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), include the stakes-winning Easter (Fr) (Exosphere {Aus}), Listed Criterium de Lyon third Roccia Nera (Fr) (Dream Ahead) and stakes-winning G3 Topkapi Trophy third Peekaboo (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}). The March-foaled chestnut is kin to Listed Brigids Pastures victrix Are We Dreaming (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}), a 2-year-old filly by Earthlight (Ire) and a yearling colt by Space Blues (Ire).

Tuesday, Deauville, France
PRIX IMPRUDENCE-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 4-9, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:31.95, vhy.
1–ROMANTIC STYLE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Sweety Dream (Fr) (GSW-Fr), by Dream Ahead
2nd Dam: Excellent Girl (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
3rd Dam: Dame Blanche (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST GROUP WIN. (€240,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 550,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Wansdyke Farms, SH Bloodstock, J Burke & Oghill (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 4-3-0-0, €71,633. *1/2 to Are We Dreaming (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}), SW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ramatuelle, 126, f, 3, Justify–Raven's Lady (GB), by Raven's Pass. (€100,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Chun Wai Kwok, Arthur Hoyeau, Mme Ilse Smits & Clement Tropres; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (KY); T-Christopher Head. €16,000.
3–Tamfana (Ger), 126, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Tres Magnifique (Fr), by Zoffany (Ire). (€20,000 Ylg '22 BBAGS). O-QRL VIII & Friends; B-Gestut Etzean & Hans-Helmut Rodenburg (GER); T-David Menuisier. €12,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 2. Odds: 3.70, 0.90, 3.40.
Also Ran: Great Generation (Ire), Shady Lady (Fr), Abstract (Fr), Alabama Moon (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Godolphin's Listed Bosra Sham S. winner Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) also goes beyond six furlongs for the first time and Charlie Appleby is not certain that she will excel. “She won the Bosra Sham Stakes on testing ground, so similar conditions shouldn't be an issue, but the step up to seven furlongs is the slight question mark,” he said. Also from Britain is the David Menuisier-trained G3 Prix Miesque scorer Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), while Juddmonte's Polytrack debut winner Abstract (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is an intriguing contender from the Henri-Francis Graffard stable.

In the Djebel, Nurlan Bizakov's unbeaten gelding Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) has won his three starts by a cumulative margin of 14 lengths including in the Listed Prix de la Californie on similar ground last time. Trainer Jerome Reynier said, “Tomorrow will be pretty deep and sticky, he's running around a straight course for the first time. I am very happy with Lazzat, he looks good, has been training very well and I'm very enthusiastic about him.”

Menuisier saddles Clive Washbourn's G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who sets the standard on that form. “He seems well, it's a prep run and the ground will be testing but we know he likes those sorts of conditions,” he said. “We will take his races one by one and we feel he might be more efficient over seven furlongs than a mile.” Jean-Claude Rouget usually targets something significant at these preps and he relies on The Aga Khan's impressive Cagnes-Sur-Mer conditions winner Keran (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) as he shuffles his Classic pack.

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The colts will line up at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4 when it is likely that much of the attention will focus on the unbeaten City Of Troy (Justify), who at this stage is the ante-post favourite for the 2,000 Guineas. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he has left Ireland for two of his three starts to win the G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket's July Course followed by the G1 Dewhurst S. on the Rowley Mile.

City Of Troy's stable-mate Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of the 1,000 Guineas winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is currently second-favourite and is one of eight entries in the race for the Ballydoyle stable. The other two Irish-trained entries are the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), trained by Adrian Murray, and Jim Bolger's unraced Clean Energy (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

The G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Rosallion (Ire) could become an important first Classic runner for his sire Blue Point (Ire) and represents Richard Hannon Jr., who won the race 10 years ago with Night Of Thunder (Ire) and also has Son (GB) entered this year. He too is by a second-season sire in Too Darn Hot (GB). In that same category is Sons And Lovers (GB), by Study Of Man (Ire), who is one of four entries for Jane Chapple-Hyam, two of which are owned by former trainer Peter Harris.

Charlie Appleby has three colts entered led by the G1 Kameko Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Saaeed Bin Suroor, who won last year's 1,000 Guineas with Mawj (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), has one of the Godophin quartet, Olympic Candle (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}).

Eve Johnson Houghton has entered Mister Sketch (GB) (Territories {Ire}) for Wathnan Racing and the G3 Acomb S. winner Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation) for the Bronte Collection, while David Menuisier has three colts entered including the G1 Criterium International winner Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}).

Aidan O'Brien is also the trainer of the favourite for the following day's 1,000 Guineas, Opera Singer. Like City Of Troy, she is by Coolmore's American-based sire and Triple Crown winner Justify, and she won last season's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. 

Opera Singer is one of 16 Irish-trained fillies engaged in the race, including eight from her own stable, while Paddy Twomey could have two runners, Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {Ire}) and One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and Natalia Lupini has her first Classic entrant in Kitty Rose (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}). 

Ollie Sangster is another young trainer with a frost Classic hope in Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), along with Amy Murphy, the trainer of Needlepoint (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}).

The G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Fallen Angel (GB) is currently the leading British-trained hope and is one of two entries for her trainer Karl Burke along with Darnation (Ire). Both fillies are by Too Darn Hot. Fallen Angel represents Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics, which also has the William Haggas-trained Love Dynasty (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) engaged in the 1,000 Guineas.

Among the four fillies entered from the John and Thady Gosden stable is Cheveley Park Stud's Listed winner Regal Jubilee (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Christopher Head is the sole French trainer with an entry and she is another daughter of Justify, Ramatuelle, who was only narrowly beaten by Vandeek (GB) in the G1 Prix Morny. 

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The winner of the G2 Prix Robert Papin, and runner-up in the G1 Prix Morny, Ramatuelle is also entered for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and she will begin her preparations for the Classics in Deauville on April 9.

“Ramatuelle has been a tremendous filly for us as a two-year-old and we are now preparing her for pretty much the mile programme in France, but not only in France, in the UK too,” said Head.

“We're looking all over Europe to make the best programme for her as a three-year-old. [Newmarket] is of course a possibility, but at the end of the day her owner will decide where she will run.

“She's going to go to the Prix Imprudence and then from there we will see where we go. To be a successful miler is the main objective this year.

“I think Ramatuelle is a really nice filly and Justify has proven he can sire very versatile horses. I'm very happy to have her at three and can't wait to see what she is going to do for us in the mile races this year.”

Ramatuelle, like Blue Rose Cen and fellow Group 1 winner Big Rock (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), was bred by Yeguada Centurion but she was sold as a yearling to a syndicate involving Tony Parker's Infinity Nine Horses and Ecurie des Monceaux. While Blue Rose Cen has been moved over the winter to the stable of Maurizio Guarnieri, Big Rock remains under Head's care. 

He said of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner, “Big Rock is brilliant and has done very well over the winter. He will have a nice programme in Europe and we will be able to come over to the UK again.

“I will speak with the owners before saying anything about where he is going to start, but don't worry the horse is doing very well and we're very happy with his training. We can't wait to see him back on track.”

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The drawing will be held on Apr. 26.

The farm said that the event was being held “to celebrate Justify's phenomenal year in 2023.”

Justify is the cumulative leading third-crop sire by earnings in a group that includes strong competition from sires including Good Magic, Bolt d'Oro, Mendelssohn, and City of Light. He was the leading second-crop sire of 2023, not only by earnings, but in every black-type category. His six individual Grade I winners equaled the annual combined total of the rest of his crop year.

His appeal is global; in 2023 alone, he was the sire of dual Grade I winner Just F Y I, the favorite to be named Champion Juvenile Filly; Hard to Justify, the winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; Opera Singer, winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac; Aspen Grove (Ire), winner of the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S.; Arabian Lion, winner of the GI Woody Stephens S.; and City of Troy, winner of the G1 Dewhurst S. Already in 2024, his Storm Boy (Aus) has won the A$3-million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic in Australia.

“In a very competitive market, we hoped that this promotion would remind breeders of the incredible potential and upside of our younger stallions,” said Coolmore's Charlie O'Connor. “And who better to remind them of that than Justify? This is an amazing opportunity for breeders to use these stallions who are all Grade I winners on dirt.

“Justify has enjoyed a sensational year,” continued O'Connor. “He's the first sire in North America since Mr Prospector to sire four Grade I-winning juveniles in a single season. His two Breeders' Cup winners are amongst the three finalists for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly at the upcoming Eclipse Awards, City of Troy and Opera Singer have been crowned European Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and European Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, while Ramatuelle was crowned French Champion 2-Year-Old. And if all that's not enough, he was also Champion First-Crop Sire in Australia. We think 'THE JUSTIFY 4' concept is a novel idea which is sure to catch the imagination of breeders given four seasons to this great stallion are up for grabs.”

Justify's 2024 stud fee was initially listed at $200,000, but was later switched to private.

The terms and conditions of the event are as follows:

• For each qualifying mare contracted to any of the four stallions by Apr. 26, 2024, a ticket will be entered with no limit on the number of tickets per client.
• One ticket will be drawn for each of the four stallions with the prize being a no-guarantee 2024 season to Justify in each case.
• The mare nominated must be approved and fit for breeding purposes. Mares over 17 or barren for the last two years are excluded.
• The qualifying mare must be bred before the nominated mare can be bred by Justify.
• All Coolmore employees and related parties are ineligible for these draws as are any of the partners in the participating stallions. In the event of a dispute, Coolmore is the final arbitrator.

Corniche, Epicenter, and Jack Christopher are all standing their second season at stud with first weanlings arriving now. Corniche is the Breeders' Cup-winning Champion Juvenile; Epicenter is the Eclipse Award winning Champion 3-Year-Old and Travers winner; and Jack Christopher is a three-time Grade I winner. Tiz the Law was a Grade I-winning 2-year-old who went on to win the GI Florida Derby, Belmont S., and Travers S. He has first 2-year-olds this year.

To participate in this draw, breeders may call the following Coolmore connections: M.V. Magnier, 011-353-86-821-6827; Dermot Ryan, 859-333-2562; Aisling Duignan, 859-333-2566; Charlie O'Connor, 859-333-2066; Adrian Wallace, 859-327-8302; Robyn Murray, 859-619-8770; Michael Norris, 859-753-1521; Blaise Benjamin, 859-333-2591; Charles Hynes, 859-753-3736; David O'Loughlin, 011-353-86-249-0821; or Christy Grassick, 001-353-86-255-1126.

The post Novel Promotion Rewards Coolmore Breeders with Justify Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A Coolmore homebred out of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), City Of Troy went unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, culminating with a dominant display when winning the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket by three and a half lengths. It was that effort which earned him his rating of 125, five pounds clear of the next best juvenile, G1 Phoenix S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

“We've probably never had a horse as exciting as City Of Troy as a two-year-old,” said O'Brien. “I suppose from the first time he ran he looked like he was something different. What makes him different is the tempo he's able to go in a race and then he just kicks into another gear at halfway.”

Noting the differences between City Of Troy and Johannesburg, O'Brien added, “Johannesburg was more of a two-year-old. He was a small horse, but City Of Troy is a bigger horse with a massive, long stride. He looks like he'll have no problem going up in distance and he's a horse who should go forward from two to three.”

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) handicapper Mark Bird said of the champion juvenile, “City Of Troy proved himself the cream of the two-year-old crop in Europe with three impressive performances between July and October. His rating of 125 places him alongside high-class horses such as Zafonic and Fasliyev at the same stage of their careers and behind only four-time Group 1-winning juvenile Johannesburg (126) among his own stable's illustrious roll call of European champion two-year-olds.”

Two of the top four colts were trained at Ballydoyle by O'Brien. Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was just behind Adrian Murray's Bucanero Fuerte with a rating of 119 having emulated City Of Troy by winning each of his three starts as a two-year-old, including an impressive five-length victory in the G1 National S. at the Curragh. He looks another leading Classic contender for his stable as a three-year-old, with a trip to France reportedly first on the agenda.

O'Brien said, “Obviously it can all change, but we're thinking of starting City Of Troy at Newmarket [in the G1 2000 Guineas] and we're thinking of maybe starting Henry Longfellow in France [in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains].”

G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was ranked joint-third with Henry Longfellow. He also emerged as the best of the British-based two-year-olds ahead of three other top-level winners, namely Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who earned a rating of 117 for his victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp; Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), rated 116 after her win in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at the Curragh; and Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was awarded a rating of 115 after his wins in the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket and G1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Fallen Angel was rated highest of all juvenile fillies trained in Britain, but she had to settle for the runner-up spot in Europe behind the 118-rated Opera Singer (Justify), the emphatic winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on whom O'Brien also issued a positive bulletin ahead of her three-year-old campaign.

“Opera Singer was a filly who improved with every run as the year went on and she got better as she went up in trip,” said O'Brien. “We were very happy with her last two runs and we haven't seen the best of her at all. She's done well physically and we're thinking she'll probably start in the G1 1000 Guineas.”

The 114-rated Ramatuelle, another daughter of Justify, was the standout two-year-old of either sex in France having won three of her first four starts for Christopher Head, including the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly by four lengths, before being narrowly beaten by Vandeek when stepping up to the top level in the Prix Morny at Deauville. The 113-rated Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), runner-up to Fallen Angel in the Moyglare, and G1 Fillies' Mile winner Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), rated 112, were the pick of the other juvenile fillies in Europe.

The Breeders' Cup was a happy hunting ground for the European raiders, with Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett) and Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point) both achieving notable ratings in winning the G1 Juvenile Turf and G1 Juvenile Turf Sprint respectively. With a rating of 114, Unquestionable shares joint-ninth with Dewhurst runner-up Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot) and Ramatuelle, while Big Evs sits just outside the top ten on 113, together with G2 Champagne S. winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), G1 Criterium International hero Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Vespertilio.

The post Justify’s City Of Troy Tops 2YO Classification appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Timeform has awarded Big Rock a rating of 129 for his six-length romp on QIPCO British Champions Day, which is the highest figure recorded by a miler in Europe this season. The winner of two Group 3 Classic trials in the spring, Big Rock was second to Ace Impact (Fr) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and also finished runner-up in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin, behind Inspiral (GB) and Sauterne (Fr) respectively. 

Head told TDN on Monday, “He's come out the race perfectly well. It's crazy, a horse coming back from that kind of race and looking like he hasn't even raced.”

He continued, “We would have gone to the Arc de Triomphe if he had won the Jockey Club because we wouldn't have known the limit of the distance for him. So in one way I am happy that things have gone this way because we know better about him for next season.”

Both Big Rock and Blue Rose Cen race for their breeder Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals of Yeguada Centurion, who is also the breeder of their stable-mate Ramatuelle (Justify). The winner of the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix du Bois, Ramatuelle was beaten only a short-neck by Vandeek (GB) in the G1 Prix Morny. She was sold as a yearling to Arthur Hoyeau for a syndicate which includes Ecurie des Monceaux and Tony Parker's Infinity Nine Horses.

“It's the end of the season now for Big Rock, and for Blue Rose Cen and Ramatuelle, and they are all coming back next season,” Head confirmed. “It's wonderful. Leopoldo loves his racing and he loves his horses and he doesn't want the public to get bored, so he wants them to be running next season and for everyone to be able to follow them.”

He added of Big Rock, “He was from Rock Of Gibraltar's last crop so it is wonderful to have him doing what he is in the same year that his sire has disappeared. And now he will be able to carry on the genes because he already has value as a stallion.”

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Successful in a listed race in March, the Yeguada Centurion homebred added the G3 Prix la Force and G3 Prix de Guiche in successive months. He has finished second in his last three races, all at Group 1 level–the Prix du Jockey Club, the Prix Jacques le Marois, and the Prix du Moulin, the latter most recently in September.

“He's doing fine, he came out of the Prix du Moulin very well and he's aiming for the Queen Elizabeth II S.,” Head said.

“He has done some very nice work and everything's all right. He's a horse that has needed a bit of time between races and I'm very happy to have had that kind of break between the Moulin at Longchamp and the Queen Elizabeth S.

“We have him back fresh and everything, so I think he will be more than interesting for his next race. Heavy ground is not a problem, whatever the ground does, it is not a problem for him.”

Head also revealed plans for Infinity Nine Horses' 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify), who is a multiple group winner and ran second in the G1 Prix Morny last month.

“The owners have decided that she has had a very nice 2-year-old season and they want to have a 100% chance with her at three,” Head explained of the G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin heroine.

“They have decided not to run her again this season, she will be back next year in spring.”

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Vandeek wins the Prix Morny after a thrilling finish at @fgdeauville! @Atzenijockey | @gainsboroughHQ pic.twitter.com/u1qDLhF7R2

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 20, 2023

“It was a huge display and a big performance,” Ed Crisford said of his cold, who has now earned a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November. “I thought the filly's turn of foot was fantastic and I thought we weren't going to claw her back, but to be fair to him he's stuck to his guns and stuck his head down and he's a really high-quality colt. We were behind a few horses and I saw Andrea looking for a gap and he couldn't quite find one, but once he got out he's picked up really well in that ground and he's a proper horse with a big future, hopefully. He could go further in time, but I think he's got so much speed being by Havana Grey that we'll aim for the Middle Park and then take it from there.”

This was a top-class renewal of the Morny and there was never a question that the pace would not be strong and it could be a slowly-run tactical affair. The G2 July S. winner Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was electric from the gates, denying Thunder Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) who was acting as the pacemaker for the G2 Norfolk S. winner Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) the lead. That set it up for the smoother-travelling closers in behind, of which Vandeek was always the most striking from a visual standpoint and also on paper once the sectional times had been released.

Every horse was dragged into a speed test here, with such strong splits leading to halfway meaning that this was turning into one for the stayers. With the testing ground accentuating the stamina test, Ramatuelle was faster than Vandeek between three out and the furlong pole but she paid for that in the run to the line as the British raider clawed back the deficit and edge it late as she tired.

Ramatuelle's trainer Christopher Head was not downcast afterwards. “She ran a blinder again–it's amazing what this filly is capable of,” he said. “A small tiny filly among those gigantic colts! It was a great performance, there is no shame in losing. We will discuss the next race with all the partners, but she is in the Cheveley Park and the Lagardere.”

Aidan O'Brien was also delighted with the run of River Tiber following his well-documented training troubles. “He had a muscle pull behind a little over two weeks ago and I really didn't think he'd make it,” he said. “He just lacked a little bit of drive early, so he was back a long ways and Ryan had to give him a chance to loosen up. When he did, he came home very well so we were very happy with the run. We'll see how he is and then make a plan.”

Pedigree Notes

Vandeek, who becomes the first group 1 winner for his excellent sire, is a grandson of Baldemosa (Fr) (Lead On Time) whose half-sister is the G1 Prix Robert Papin heroine Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene). Her trio of top-class performers are the G1 July Cup S. and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Anabaa, the GI Pimlico Special runner-up Key Of Luck and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal (Zilzal).

Always Loyal is the second dam of the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies-winning champion Shonan Adela (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while another of Balbonella's progeny was the G3 Prix de la Grotte-placed Country Belle (Seattle Slew) who was the dam of the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Country Reel (Danzig). Also connected to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Baine (Fr) by Country Reel, Mosa Mine's colt foal is by Starspangledbanner (Aus).

Sunday, Deauville, France
SUMBE PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, Deauville, 8-20, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:09.84, vsf.
1–VANDEEK (GB), 126, c, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Baldemosa (Fr), by Lead On Time
3rd Dam: Bamieres (Fr), by Riverman
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (52,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 42,000gns Ylg '22 TADEY; 625,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). O-KHK Racing; B-Maywood Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-Andrea Atzeni. €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 3-2-0-0, €316,055. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ramatuelle, 122, f, 2, Justify–Raven's Lady (GB), by Raven's Pass. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€100,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Chun Wai Kwok, Arthur Hoyeau, Mme Ilse Smits & Clement Tropres; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (KY); T-Christopher Head. €80,010.
3–River Tiber (Ire), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Transcendence (Ire), by Arcano (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (480,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg & Brant; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €40,005.
Margins: SNK, 2, 2HF. Odds: 4.40, 1.00, 3.70.
Also Ran: Sacred Angel (Ire), Valiant Force, Sajir (Ire), Elite Status (GB), Jasour (GB), Thunder Blue (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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“We can't wait to go to the Morny with her and it has been part of the plan since the beginning,” Head said. “I think she's the type of horse who can box with this calibre of horse at this time in the season. There are going to be two fillies, two French horses and lots of good opposition, but she's doing fine and all the lights are green for the Morny.”

With the track hit by significant rain on Friday, ability to get through tacky ground is going to be a bonus and while race-fitness may be an issue following his minor setback, Ballydoyle's G2 Coventry S.-winning TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has at least proven that easy going is not a problem having won by 10 lengths on debut on soft at Navan in April.

Aidan O'Brien has his concerns, however. “He's good, I'm worried that he missed 10 days so he will run with a cloud over him,” he said. “I wouldn't be surprised at all if he did get tired. We are taking a chance on running him back, because if he doesn't run now he won't be out until the autumn. He came sounder quicker than we thought he would, he did a piece of work and that's why we let him take his chance, but there is a cloud over him. If he did run disappointing I wouldn't be surprised. He was lame for seven days, he came back sound but he missed all the work.”

It was soft when KHK Racing's Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) won the G2 Richmond S. during a rain-afflicted Qatar Goodwood Festival and there is a concern that Clive Cox withdrew Al Mohamediya Racing's G2 July S. winner Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) from that race due to the ground. Karl Burke will have less worries about conditions for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who bounced out of a third in the G2 Norfolk S. won by Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) to take the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Cabourg from the other French runner Sajir (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

Chris Wall, racing manager for KHK Racing, said of Vandeek, “We're not kidding ourselves, we know we're in at the deep end, but he's done nothing but improve and physically he is getting stronger all the time. The ground at Goodwood last time was very soft and while he coped with that, I think he will be better on a sounder surface. I think he's going to run a nice race.”

Clive Cox said of Jasour, “We were unhappy to run at Goodwood with a penalty in what was effectively heavy ground and with this race on the horizon it was a sensible manoeuvre not to run him there. We've been placed in the race since winning it with Reckless Abandon. Nando Parrado and Golden Horde ran well in the race, as well as Tis Marvellous. I'm just thrilled I have a horse of this calibre to be running in the race again and of course it would mean the world to be getting involved in the finish, which we hope he will.”

Rain Welcome For Via Sistina…

Connections of the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) were delighted to see the heavy rain ahead of the G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet as she steps back up from a mile having been third in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket's July Festival. In light of subsequent events, her six-length defeat of Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Newmarket's G2 Dahlia S. in May looks even better than it did at the time and trainer George Boughey is approaching Sunday's race with confidence. “She had a little break after the Falmouth and I slightly regret running her back over a mile in hindsight,” he said. “She's a filly who hit the line really well in the Pretty Polly and arguably might get further, but she was an even-money shot and it was definitely worth a go. She added another bit of group one black-type to her pedigree and I think you will see the real Via Sistina back up at 10 furlongs.”

Testing ground would probably not have been what Andre Fabre wanted for Baron Edouard De Rothschild's G1 Prix Rothschild winner Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is back up in trip having relished that mile trip. The Aga Khan's Darkaniya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) had beaten her in Chantilly's 10 1/2-furlong Listed Prix de la Pepiniere last month and may be better suited to this test, while TDN Rising Star Above The Curve (American Pharoah) had Mqse De Sevigne two lengths in arrears in the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in May. The trouble for her is that she failed to land a blow on Via Sistina in the Pretty Polly and couldn't handle Al Husn in Goodwood's G1 Nassau S. so like everything else is up against it tryin again to stop the Hillens' star mare.

Jannah Rose Back In Action…

Also at Deauville, the 10-furlong G2 Sumbe Prix Alec Head sees the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) re-emerge following her disappointing effort in the G1 Prix de Diane. That also applies to the G3 Prix Penelope-winning TDN Rising Star Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), one of the first of the Wildenstein-bred horses to run in the Wertheimer colours following their acquisition of the organisation's bloodstock.

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