Tag: Saint-Cloud Racecourse

Westover Powers To Record-Breaking Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Triumph

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) failed to contend with subsequent G1 Coral-Eclipse runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in last month's G1 Coronation Cup, but regained the winning thread in emphatic style with a record-breaking performance in Saturday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Westover raced in a handy third behind Ralph Beckett-trained chaperone Malabu Drive (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was usurped for the lead by last term's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern victor Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), and eased into second when his stablemate faded quickly with a half-mile remaining. Shaken up to seize control from Tunnes in early straight, the 1-2 favourite refused to yield when strongly pressed by Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) inside the final quarter-mile and was driven out to double his elite-level tally by two lengths from that rival. The winning time of 2:25.46 lowered Alpinista's race record, set last year, by nearly 3/4-of-a-second.

Westover's journey at the highest level began with an unlucky-in-running third in Epsom's G1 Derby before gaining a measure of compensation at the Curragh. He emptied quickly when facing elders for the first time in Ascot's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at the end of July and closed his 2022 campaign with a sixth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He faced a stiff task on seasonal return in Meydan's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, but was no match for galactico Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) and ran on with gusto after Emily Upjohn's gears had sealed victory at Epsom last time.

“Inevitably there was pressure as it was a long time since he won, over a year, and the longer that goes on the harder it gets,” reflected Beckett. “There was nothing wrong with his two runs this year and he's only had the one blip in the [G1] King George [last year]. He was great today and it was a very fast time. For so long we had a reputation for training long-distance fillies, so it's important to change the dial. We'll enjoy today and see what comes next. This was important.” Looking ahead to targets down the line, the trainer continued, “I think we'll either stay at a mile-and-a-half or even have a conversation about going up in trip. The peloton came to him, but he stretched away in the last half-furlong. We'll certainly consider the [G1] King George [& Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot] and see how he is closer to the time. There will be a bit of a monkey on the shoulder saying is this a good idea after what happened last year, but we'll see. The Arc will be under consideration too and he ran a great race in it last year, but got stuck in the ground [when sixth].”

It was a landmark success for rider Rob Hornby, with it being his first Group 1 in the Juddmonte silks. “Winning a Group 1 in these colours is the stuff of dreams,” he said. “I was brought up watching these colours win prestigious races and to be able to do it at Group 1 level is the highest honour. I'm grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way. Ralph has trained this horse so well from two to three and three to four, so to win a Group 1 at four is so important. These are things you dream of, so when they come true you don't know how to think.” Reflecting on a record-breaking performance, he added, “The pace was really good early on and Dougie [Costello aboard Malabu Drive] was able to keep it honest the whole way. When he dropped the bit he was able to work into it and hit the line strong. This is my third Group 1 for Ralph and fourth overall, but it's nearly a year since my last one and they are so important for a jockey.”

Pedigree Notes

Westover, one of his sire's 31 Group 1 winners, is one of two black-type scorers and the leading performer out of GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. victrix Mirabilis (Lear Fan), who also ran third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. The April-foaled bay is a full-brother to G3 Darley S. victor Monarchs Glen (GB). Mirabilis, a daughter of GII Buena Vista H. and G3 Prix du Bois winner Media Nox (GB) (Lycius), is a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) and G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Burning Sun (Danzig). Media Nox, in turn, is kin to MGSW G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Bonash (GB) (Rainbow Quest), whose descendants include G3 Earl of Sefton S. scorer and four-time Group 1-placed sire Phoenix Tower (Chester House) and G1 South Africa Classic hero Anfields Rocket (SAf) (Coup De Grace).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €400,000, Saint-Cloud, 7-8, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:25.46 (NSR), g/s.
1–WESTOVER (GB), 128, c, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Mirabilis (GSW-US, SW & G1SP-Fr, $275,664), by Lear Fan
2nd Dam: Media Nox (GB), by Lycius
3rd Dam: Sky Love, by Nijinsky II
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Rob Hornby. €228,560. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-UAE, 11-4-4-1, €2,3570,770. *Full to Monarchs Glen (GB), GSW-Eng, SW & GSP-US, $472,081. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zagrey (Fr), 128, c, 4, Zarak (Fr)–Grey Anatomy (GB), by Slickly (Fr). (€32,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Ecurie Altima & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Ecurie Euroling (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €91,440.
3–Junko (GB), 128, g, 4, Intello (Ger)–Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €45,720.
Margins: 2, 3, 9. Odds: 0.50, 3.20, 5.70.
Also Ran: Tunnes (Ger), Malabu Drive (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Sandown’s Eclipse Attracts Field Of Four, Anmaat Absent

Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse is down to just four after one of the main protagonists Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was ruled out at the 11th hour due to a foot abscess. TDN Rising Stars Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}), Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) are joined by this year's G1 Ranvet and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. hero Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) as Shadwell's G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner was forced to skip the contest.

“It's just a matter of timing, he'll be fine next week hopefully,” Angus Gold said. “It's a big blow to Owen [Burrows] and the team there and obviously Sheikha Hissa and all at Shadwell. Off the top of my head we could look at something like the Irish Champion S., but that is obviously a while away yet. The Eclipse was his prime summer target, but there we go.”

Emily Upjohn, so impressive in the G1 Coronation Cup last time, was declared without the hood she sported in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and at Epsom last time. As announced earlier in the week, William Buick will partner the Gosdens' 4-year-old, who will look to provide the Lloyd Webbers and Buick with more joy than The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who was last of seven in the 2013 edition and Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) who had beaten only one of the five runners three years earlier. In France, five have been declared for Saturday's €400,000 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, with the Coronation Cup runner-up and last year's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) the standout.

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Freshman Sire City Light Off The Mark At Saint-Cloud

Haras d'Etreham resident City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Rod Millman-trained daughter Denruth Diamond (Fr) graduated over 6 1/2 furlongs in Wednesday's Prix de la Rablais at Saint-Cloud.

2nd-Saint-Cloud, €30,000, Mdn, 6-14, 2yo, f, 6 1/2fT, 1:24.44, sf.
DENRUTH DIAMOND (FR) (f, 2, City Light {Fr}–Jeune Et Jolie {Ire}, by Verglas {Ire}), who claimed minor prizes in outings at Windsor in April and May, was well away from the outside stall to race in an early second and assumed control after the initial exchanges. Headed turning for home, the 37-10 second choice was nudged along with 500 metres remaining and kept on in resolute fashion under continued whipless rousting to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths from Vive La Reine (Fr) (Recorder {GB}), becoming the first winner for her freshman sire (by Siyouni {Fr}). Denruth Diamond is the latest of five foals and third scorer produced by a winning half-sister to G3 Sapporo Nisai S. second Fast Approach (Jpn) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). The April-foaled bay's second dam, G3 Tyros S. third Jolie Jioconde (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), is kin to four black-type performers headed by her dual Group 1-winning full-brother Satono Crown (Jpn) and G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning full-sister Lightening Pearl (Ire). Sales history: €60,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, €16,458. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Middleham Park Racing CXVI; B-Ecurie Skymarc Farm (FR); T-Rod Millman.

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New Bay’s Alcantor Strikes For TDN Rising Stardom In France

Edouard de Rothschild's Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}–Bianca De Medici {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) was a picture of calmness during the extended preliminaries of Tuesday's Prix Chapeau Rouge at Saint-Cloud and exploded onto the scene with a rare display of authority to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status in taking fashion.

The seven-furlong contest has been used as a springboard to higher by others, most notably subsequent Group 1 winners Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Alcantor is the second Rising Star for his sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), whose first was G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up New Energy (Ire). He becomes the first juvenile winner of the campaign for Andre Fabre, who also nurtured Glen Shiel and Arapaho.

The €180,000 Arqana December graduate was swiftly into stride and comfortable on the lead throughout. Turning for home with a three-length buffer, the 11-5 favourite soon doubled his advantage without breaking sweat and was on cruise control inside the final quarter-mile, gearing down late to easily outclass Bateau Blanc (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}), himself a full-brother to G2 Derby Italiano hero Tokyo Gold (Fr), by a facile 2 1/2 lengths.

 

“I bought him as a foal in Deauville and he was raised at [Haras de] Meautry,” de Rothschild said. “We do so sometimes and we can compare our crop to others. He has been quite impressive, my first runner with [Bauyrzhan] Murzabayev in the saddle, and we were quite hopeful beforehand.” With no immediate targets on the horizon, and a seemingly patient approach intended, France Galop's President added, “There are no plans at this time, we feel the success is more the result of a true quality rather than precocity.”

Pedigree Notes
Alcantor is the seventh of eight foals and sixth scorer from as many runners out of a multiple-winning half to stakes-winning Hungarian champion Thunder Teddington (GB) (Halling). The March-foaled bay is a half-brother to G2 Union-Rennen victor Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and a yearling filly by Romanised (Ire). Descendants of Alcantor's third dam Trevillari (Riverman), herself a full-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Treble, include dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), GI Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. third Tsigane (Fr) (Anabaa) and last year's G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup victor Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). His fourth dam Trevilla (Lyphard) is an unraced half-sister to storied champion Triptych (Riverman).

1st-Saint-Cloud, €30,000, Mdn, 6-6, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:29.29, g/s.
ALCANTOR (FR), c, 2, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Bianca De Medici (GB), by Medicean (GB)
2nd Dam: Tremiere (Fr), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Trevillari, by Riverman
(€180,000 Wlg '21 ARQDEC) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. *1/2 to Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}), GSW-Ger. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Baron Edouard de Rothschild; B-SCEA du Grand Chene (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.

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