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First Group 1 For Galileo Gold As Ebro River Best In The Phoenix

On the premises but off the board in a trio of group 2s in his native Britain, Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) benefitted from a change in tactics to make virtually all in Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. In front before racing a furlong, the Hugo Palmer-trained 12-1 shot had the stand's rail to help and gave generously for Shane Foley as TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) joined battle approaching the furlong pole. As that rival and the G2 Railway S. first and second Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made it four across the track there, it was the British raider who gave most to see off Dr Zempf by 3/4 of a length with the 6-4 favourite Go Bears Go a head behind in third. Foley, who was in Saratoga on Saturday and returned to home soil in the morning, said, “Hugo fancied the horse. He's tough and genuine and I just said I wouldn't mind changing tactics, as they had been dropping him in. It looked like there wasn't much pace today and with that tailwind it's hard to get them back.”

Impressive when the 3 1/4-length winner of the Listed National S. over five furlongs at Sandown May 27, Ebro River was a creditable fifth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 15 before finishing fourth in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 8. Again in that position in a slowly-run renewal of the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood July 29, the chestnut enjoyed being allowed to bowl along and as his sire had done in the 2016 G1 2000 Guineas got the rail and refused to relinquish. “He jumped and probably travelled too strongly if anything–we went end-to-end but I had a willing partner,” Foley said. “He had a good run in the Coventry, but had been keen and awkward and doing things wrong. It was an ideal day to make it, as we had the draw and it's all come together. I thought he'd be vulnerable, as he'd travelled so strong in my hands for the first three and I thought they might swallow him but he dug in and I was comfortable in the last 100 yards. I think he's a horse with a lot of talent and the softer the ground the better you'll see of him. He felt like he would get seven furlongs no problem if he learns to relax. He was a lot better today and I felt that even if they went another half a furlong he'd still be in front.”

Ebro River has a chance of emulating the last two years' Phoenix winners Siskin (First Defence) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in getting a mile next year, but his dam Soft Power (Ire) (Balmont) has mainly sprinters in her immediate family. She is kin to Key Rose (Ire) (Key of Luck), who was third in the Listed Flame of Tara S. in its former guise as a six-furlong contest and is a full-sister to the dam of the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 July Cup hero Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}). This is the dynasty of the GI King's Bishop S. hero The Big Beast (Yes It's True) and the GI Hollywood Derby hero Slew the Dragon (Seattle Slew). Soft Power's yearling filly is by Mehmas (Ire), while she also has a filly foal by Inns of Court (Ire).

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Home Win For France As Footstepsinthesand’s Marianafoot Takes The Maurice De Gheest

There were just three of the dozen to contest Sunday's G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville trained in France, but despite extremely tough foreign opposition the home team managed a surprise one-two led by Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Prolific at a lower level of late, Jean-Claude Seroul's 6-year-old had captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot on ParisLongchamp's turning track May 30 and July 1 but was equally at home over the straight course here with Mickael Barzalona burying his mount in the stand's-side group early. Tacking on to the heels of the G1 July Cup hero Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) inside the final two furlongs, the 9-1 shot sliced his way through a gap to swamp that 9-5 favourite passing the furlong pole. Readily asserting from there, the chestnut who was extending the amazing run of his owner-breeder and trainer Jerome Reynier in 2021 following the success of their Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over compatriot Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) at the finish. That 92-1 shot was the shock of the race as she denied Starman by a nose for the silver medal. “We've been targeting this for a while and in all his races beforehand we had in mind that they were preps for this,” Reynier explained. “We know he stays seven easily and I think he'll go a mile, so we had it in mind to make the running and turn it into a stamina test if need be. It was just a matter of getting an opening and he settled it within a matter of strides.”

With France winless in the six preceding domestic group 1 races, Marianafoot looked to have a tall order to stop that trend especially with such a potent international threat including the title holders of the July Cup, G1 Prix Jean Prat, G1 Commonwealth Cup, G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. Even allowing for his relentless progress since December, where he began his winning sequence in a conditions event over this trip on this venue's Polytrack, the idea of him upstaging such a stellar cast was in part fanciful and few would have predicted that the finish would involve a duo who were yet to figure at this level. Tried over a straight track on his fourth start this year in Chantilly's Listed Prix Servanne over six furlongs Apr. 26, he proved that held no fears before twice inflicting defeats on Duhail (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) at ParisLongchamp. After that rival had run such a fine race to be on the premises in the G1 Sussex S. last week, the portents were strong that he would at least be there at the business end and he was drawn favourably low which would aid his cause.

With the other 9-5 joint market-leader Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) proving difficult behind the stalls and fly-leaping and nearly unshipping Frankie Dettori exiting the stalls, she could almost be ruled out of contention even before she took too hard a grip racing far side. In a fascinating tactical affair, Maxime Guyon opted to pursue the Stonestreet sensation on Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) as they raced in isolation with Hollie Doyle adopting her usual front-running ploy on Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) up the centre and it may be no coincidence that this trio eventually filled the last three places. Following Glen Shiel was the G2 Lennox S. winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Tropbeau, while stand's side the third of the French runners Ocean (Fr) (Exosphere {Aus}) led the Jean Prat hero Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) and Starman with the winner tucked in behind. Starman had forged ahead with 300 metres remaining, but Marianafoot was really picking up in his shadow and as that rival found extra the July Cup winner faded close home to lose second to Tropbeau who emerges with great credit.

“When I ran him over six furlongs at Chantilly, I considered it a test over a straight course and although the owner wasn't too keen to run I told him we needed to teach him something,” Reynier said. “That proved to be the right move, as since then he has been perfect. He is now a group 1 winner and a stallion prospect. We'll keep him in Deauville and keep him fresh to see if we go for the [G1 Prix Jacques le] Marois next week. I know Palace Pier is coming and he'll be a tough nut to crack, but if he's doing well we might well take our chance. Later, the obvious target is the [Oct. 3 G1 Prix de la] Foret [at ParisLongchamp] if the ground hasn't turned too soft by then. If we are lucky, we might finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile.”

Stephane Pasquier said of Tropbeau, “The filly showed very good acceleration to pip Starman and take second. It's all very satisfying.” Starman's owner David Ward commented, “Starman was beaten by the ground. We will have to travel outside Europe at some point to find ground that suits him. He still ran well, despite the conditions not being to his liking. The jockey confirmed our impression. On good ground, he's a different horse.”

Marianafoot's dam Marianabaa (Fr) (Anabaa) is also responsible for the stable's 4-year-old Padron (Ire) (Gris de Gris {Ire}), who captured this year's Listed Prix Altipan and was third in the G3 Dusseldorfer Fruhjahrs-Meile. The second dam is the Listed Prix des Lilas scorer and G3 Prix Chloe runner-up Maria Gabriella (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), who produced the listed scorer Mariafoot (Fr) from a mating with Marianafoot's sire Footstepsinthesand. Maria Gabriella is kin to the Listed Prix Volterra winner and G3 Prix d'Aumale and G3 Prix Miesque runner-up Night of Light (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and to last year's G2 Dante S. runner-up Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Marianabaa's 3-year-old full-sister to Marianafoot named Marianansand (Fr) was fourth in the Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon this term, while she also has the unraced 2-year-old colt Mariananchic (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}).

Sunday, Deauville, France
LARC PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST-G1, €380,000, Deauville, 8-8, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:17.04, sf.
1–MARIANAFOOT (FR), 130, h, 6, by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
1st Dam: Marianabaa (Fr), by Anabaa
2nd Dam: Maria Gabriella (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
3rd Dam: Celestial Lagoon (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Jean-Claude Seroul (FR); T-Jerome Reynier; J-Mickael Barzalona. €217,132. Lifetime Record: SW-Qat, 23-15-2-1, €650,262. *1/2 to Padron (Ire) (Gris de Gris {Ire}), SW-Fr & GSP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tropbeau (GB), 127, f, 4, Showcasing (GB)–Frangipanni (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (60,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT; €180,000 2yo '19 ARQMA). O-Lady Bamford; B-Lord Margadale (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €86,868.
3–Starman (GB), 130, c, 4, Dutch Art (GB)–Northern Star (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O/B-David Ward (GB); T-Ed Walker. €43,434.
Margins: 1 3/4, NO, HD. Odds: 8.90, 92.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Brando (GB), Kinross (GB), Ocean (Fr), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Laws of Indices (Ire), Rohaan (Ire), Glen Shiel (GB), Thunder Moon (Ire), Campanelle (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Frankel’s Alpinista In Command In Berlin

Coping with easy ground well enough to record a workmanlike success in the G2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last time July 3, Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) relished the slicker surface available at a sun-baked Hoppegarten to continue her owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing's annus mirabilis by garnering Sunday's G1 Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin. Settled fourth early by Luke Morris as Godolphin's G2 Dubai City of Gold scorer Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) cut out the running, the 19-5 shot was launched in early straight to swamp her neighbour passing the 300-metre marker. Pulling clear on the run to the line, the grey had an authoritative 2 3/4-length margin to spare over last year's winner and 9-5 favourite Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) there, with Walton Street ending up third a length away. “I was very pleased with her, she stays really, really well,” trainer Sir Mark Prescott said. “She wasn't going particularly well early on, turning in she was perhaps going less well than anything but for two but she stuck on really well and I was enormously pleased with her.”

Alpinista was emulating the achievement of her second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) in registering a top-level victory in Germany and she has two more to annexe to match the treble achieved by her predecessor in the 2004 G1 Deutschlandpreis, G1 Rheinland-Pokal and G1 Preis von Europa. She is certainly capable of that based on all known evidence since bursting onto the scene a year ago with a clear-cut success on firm going in Salisbury's 10-furlong Listed Upavon Fillies' S. a week prior to chasing home Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when second in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. Kept at this mile-and-a-half trip thereafter, she was a touch below-par when runner-up in the G3 Princess Royal S. at Newmarket on her 3-year-old finale in September and also when gaining a narrow verdict in the Listed Daisy Warwick Fillies' S. at Goodwood on her return Apr. 30. Even in the Lancashire Oaks, where the soft ground was against her, she was unconvincing dealing with the 3-year-old Lady Hayes (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) but this tour de force confirmed her effectiveness when conditions are right.

“Obviously Miss Rausing has a big say in it, but I think we have probably sort of earmarked the [G1] Preis Von Europa at Cologne on September 26 and we'll just see if something comes in between,” Prescott added. “She had Albanova with me a few years ago, Albanova won this and that race, so we might follow the same pattern because of course they are very closely related. It's just interesting that she should follow in the hoofprints. She stays really well this filly, she would go a bit further if we had to.”

Kirsten Rausing commented, “In numerical terms, it's my best season so far. That's 23 winners in my own colours to date and that is the same as my best ever year, which was 2011, but obviously that was by the end of the season. Out of the 23 wins, we have eight black-type wins this year: a group 1, two group 2s, a group 3 and four listeds. It's fantastic, all my ships are coming in, it happens every 25 years or so.”

Of Alpinista, she added, “We always thought she was pretty good. She's possibly improved from three to four, but the ability was always there from her two-year-old days. I think she's very typical of the family in that she is very brave. Her illustrious ancestress Albanova, her granddam, could do the same, and of course her own sister Alborada was particularly brave, only small, but very brave. Alpinista is longer–physically to look at she perhaps isn't as beautiful as some of them, but I'm absolutely not in any way denigrating her!”

“The main job is done now. It's a lot to ask of her to run in the Yorkshire Oaks again,” she concluded. “The journey to Berlin is long, it's two days in either direction, so I wouldn't mind letting her have a break, but she will tell us what she wants to do, I'm sure. She is not an easy mare to mate externally, being by Frankel, but of course I have just the right horse for her at home, Study of Man, but we won't decide about that until she's run her last race.”

Alpinista, who becomes Frankel's 18th group 1 winner, is the first foal out of Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) who raced for these connections and gained her black-type success in this country in the Listed Silbernes Band over two mile and an extended three furlongs. She is one of four black-type winners out of the aforementioned Albanova including the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup scorer Algometer (GB) (Archipenko) and the triple listed scorer All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The listed-winning third dam Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who is best known for producing Albanova's full-sister Alborada (GB) who provided these connections with two renewals of the G1 Champion S., is kin to the G3 Doncaster Cup winner Alleluia (GB) Caerleon). She is the dam of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) also by Alzao who in turn was responsible for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulians hero and sire Aussie Rules. Alwilda's unraced 2-year-old filly by Kendargent (Fr) named Alpenblume (GB) is also in training with Prescott, while she is in foal to Iffraaj (GB).

Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany
LONGINES 131ST GROSSER PREIS VON BERLIN-G1, €155,000, Hoppegarten, 8-8, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:29.48, gd.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 129, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 10-5-2-0, €316,683. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Torquator Tasso (Ger), 132, c, 4, Adlerflug (Ger)–Tijuana (Ger), by Toylsome (GB). (€24,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-Gestut Auenquelle; B-Paul H Vandeberg (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €30,000.
3–Walton Street (GB), 132, g, 7, Cape Cross (Ire)–Brom Felinity (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €15,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1, 2. Odds: 3.80, 1.80, 2.70.
Also Ran: Nerium (Ire), Imi (Ger), Sunny Queen (Ger), Aff Un Zo (Ger), Kaspar (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Frankel’s Raclette Earns Rising Star Tag in Deauville Debut

Sent postward as the well-backed 21-10 favourite for Sunday's Prix Hipodromo de Chile (Prix des Marettes) at Deauville, Juddmonte's hitherto unraced Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) returned to the winner's circle with a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette after a taking performance in the 7 1/2-furlong debutantes' heat. The eventual winner broke in mid division and found a rhythm in rear through halfway. Nudged along in traffic once into the home straight, she quickened into contention approaching the final furlong and went through an array of gears in the closing stages to easily outpoint Subahiyah (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) by more than the winning margin of 3/4-of-a-length would imply.

“She has a lovely attitude, but was slightly green through the race and certainly has more to learn,” said winning rider Mickael Barzalona. “She really impressed me with the manner in which she quickened in the straight. Hopefully, she will improve more and have a big future.”

Raclette is the fourth of five foals and third scorer produced by four-time Grade I heroine Emollient (Empire Maker), herself a half-sister to GI Belmont S. and G1 Florida Derby placegetter Hofburg (Tapit) and GII Hall of Fame S. third Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile). The April-foaled homebred bay, whose dam was bred to Into Mischief this year, is full to a yearling colt and a half to G2 Balanchine S. and G3 Naas Juvenile Fillies Sprint placegetter Peace Charter (GB) (War Front). Raclette's dual stakes-winning third dam Glia (A.P. Indy) is a daughter of MG1SW matriarch Coup de Genie (Mr. Prospector).

3rd-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 8-8, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:37.39, sf.
RACLETTE (GB), c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Emollient (MGISW-US, $1,350,400), by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Soothing Touch, by Touch Gold
3rd Dam: Glia, by A.P. Indy
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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